Benayoun, along with team-mates Glen Johnson, Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio, visited Marijana Kovacevic's clinic last week to receive a treatment that is said to improve recovery times on muscle injuries dramatically.

Benayoun was expected to be out of action for around a month but after receiving the treatment, missed only around two weeks of Liverpool's season.

Kovacevic's practice, which has also been visited by Frank Lampard and Robin van Persie, has been greeted with scepticism from some quarters, while the Serbian health authorities are investigating her licence to perform the treatment.

Liverpool insist the placenta used was from a horse but Benayoun has now contradicted their stance on the matter.

"There was no animal parts used and no injections," said Benayoun.

"The doctor has treated a lot of players and it seems to be held in very high regard.

"She explained everything to me beforehand and told me she would use fluid from a placenta that had come from a woman.

"Nothing went into the muscle itself. It was a case of massaging the liquid around the affected area.

"It meant I was able to play again and help the team at an important time within a fortnight. I never envisaged being on the pitch again so soon, and it shows what can be done with this treatment."