Liverpool legend John Aldridge has slammed the transfer market know-how at the club. Aldridge wrote in the Sunday World: "I have worries about a scouting and player recruitment structure at Liverpool that has seen the club continue its appalling record in the transfer market, dating back over several different ownership set-ups.

"I would not be surprised if around one billion pounds (and that's not a precise estimate) has been spent by Liverpool on players over the last couple of decades and to be perfectly honest, you can count the number of successful signings on the fingers of one hand.

"The current set-up revolves around a transfer committee. Rodgers is on the panel, as is Managing Director Ian Ayre, the deal-maker and the guy who signs off on transfers.

"The group also features Michael Edwards, who is essentially the stats man; he studies the tactical analysis on each player the club might consider buying. Head of Recruitment Dave Fallows completes the panel and you have to say their collective efforts have been less than impressive of late."