The 30-year-old moved to the London club after failing to secure regular first-team football at Liverpool and will now be helping Chelsea try and retain the Premier League title and push on in Europe next season.

However the Israeli has come out and slammed his former manager for his behaviour during their time at the Merseyside club (Liverpool 10/1 to win the Premier League).

He told the News of the World:  “I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit.

“And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn’t understand why.”

Benayoun stated that on a number of occasions last season he was put down by the Spaniard after the player himself thought he had performed well.

He said: “There are many examples of him treating me badly.

“Last season, against Fulham  and Lyon,  the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benitez told me he was surprised they booed because I was not good enough,? he added.

The midfielder joined Liverpool from West Ham United in July 2007 and became a good utility player at the club but found it difficult to claim a starting eleven spot under Benitez.

Despite Roy Hodgson taking over as a manager at the Anfield club Benayoun decided it was time to leave and, after being given plenty of offers from clubs around Europe, he decided to join the Blues.

The player decided not to express his opinions of his former manager whilst at the club but has stated how Benitez damaged the player’s self belief.

He said: “He tried to destroy my confidence. You can’t treat a player like this and expect him to be happy.

“I felt so unhappy but, out of respect to the club, I never spoke out. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt.”

Liverpool will be looking to improve on last season’s seventh place in the Premier League and begin their campaign against Arsenal at Anfield on August 14 (Liverpool 5/4, draw 23/10, Arsenal 7/4).

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

The 30-year-old moved to the London club after failing to secure regular first-team football at Liverpool and will now be helping Chelsea try and retain the Premier League title and push on in Europe next season.

However the Israeli has come out and slammed his former manager for his behaviour during their time at the Merseyside club (Liverpool 10/1 to win the Premier League).

He told the News of the World:  “I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit.

“And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn’t understand why.”

Benayoun stated that on a number of occasions last season he was put down by the Spaniard after the player himself thought he had performed well.

He said: “There are many examples of him treating me badly.

“Last season, against Fulham  and Lyon,  the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benitez told me he was surprised they booed because I was not good enough,? he added.

The midfielder joined Liverpool from West Ham United in July 2007 and became a good utility player at the club but found it difficult to claim a starting eleven spot under Benitez.

Despite Roy Hodgson taking over as a manager at the Anfield club Benayoun decided it was time to leave and, after being given plenty of offers from clubs around Europe, he decided to join the Blues.

The player decided not to express his opinions of his former manager whilst at the club but has stated how Benitez damaged the player’s self belief.

He said: “He tried to destroy my confidence. You can’t treat a player like this and expect him to be happy.

“I felt so unhappy but, out of respect to the club, I never spoke out. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt.”

Liverpool will be looking to improve on last season’s seventh place in the Premier League and begin their campaign against Arsenal at Anfield on August 14 (Liverpool 5/4, draw 23/10, Arsenal 7/4).

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Benayoun, who scored the first goal in the Reds’ easy 3-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Monday, says the Merseysiders must secure some silverware to make up for a poor campaign.

They take on Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Europa semi-final on Thursday (Liverpool 21/10, Atletico 13/10 to win first leg) and will arrive in the Spanish capital following a day-long journey over land, sea and air with flying restrictions still in place across much of Europe due to the volcanic ash cloud.

“We need to finish what has been a disappointing season with a trophy,” Benayoun said.

“Any trophy you win is great and we want to do it.”

Liverpool take on Atletico without star striker Fernando Torres, who is again deprived of playing against his old club due to injury.

Torres missed last season’s Champions League trip to the Vicente Calderon as he was on the sidelines, and he will again have to watch from afar as Rafa Benitez’s side aim to come away from Spain with a positive first-leg result.

Benayoun revealed the Reds squad are aiming to see off the La Liga outfit and go on to lift the trophy for their injured talisman in Hamburg in May.

“I wanted him to play against his old club – he deserves to do it – as it would have been a special moment for him but we need to try and win the game for him,” Benayoun added.

Benitez is expected to make several changes from the side that saw off the Hammers so easily and is definitely without former Atletico star Maxi Rodriguez, who is ineligible.

Alberto Aquilani was an unused substitute against West Ham so he will be pushing for a recall while Javier Mascherano, who came on in Monday’s win in the second half, could also earn a start.