Football FanCast columnist Jerome Johnstone is unsure as to why Liverpool are pursuing a move for Gareth Barry and wonders if Rafa is looking to possibly reverting back to a possible 4-4-2.

There doesn't seem to be a day that doesn't go by where Gareth Barry's Aston Villa future is not up for debate. What started as a general enquiry by Rafa Benitez has opened up a huge can of worms, in which every man and his dog at Villa Park bemoaning the conduct of our football club.

It has become an absolute farce and the mudslinging really hasn't done much for both football clubs but I have been fascinated that the centre of this furore, Gareth Barry, has been incredibly quiet and therefore done little but add fuel to the flames. It seems to me that the Aston Villa skipper has had his head turned and would clearly quite fancy a move away but I ask the question - Is he really the kind of player Liverpool need?

I have always rated Gareth Barry as a footballer. He is tenacious, excellent left foot but is he really any better than what we got? It probably doesn't help my impartiality that I am a massive fan of Xabi Alonso, but I fail to see how Barry offers anything to our squad, which to be fair is pretty strong in centre midfield. Wingers are what our football club is short off and a suitable understudy for Fernando Torres. So what is Rafa's thinking behind the possible transfer- a possible change in formation?

Rafa Benitez has had his fair share of his critics over the last few years and I will admit that I was one of them. I was fed up of the constant chopping and changing of personnel, formations and failed to see how we could ever hope to get consistency. The 4-4-1-1 has proved a huge success in getting the best out of Gerrard/Torres and for me it would be the perfect one to mount a title challenge next season. I just wonder given a look at our targets whether the Spaniard is looking to revert to a 4-4-2 and bring Barry in on the left hand side.

If I am honest my priority should be a pair of attacking wingers to take the place of Babel and Kuyt. I know Babel has done particularly well down that left side but I feel a more natural winger like a Martin Petrov or a Ricardo Quaresma would be the perfect complement to what is already an extremely strong squad. What is Rafa's thinking behind the move for Gareth Barry? Would he be a signing that would be welcomed although at the possible expense of Alonso? Is Rafa looking to revert back to a 4-4-2 next season?

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