Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson says the club's ownership issues are no excuse for poor form on the pitch.
Hodgson also doesn't accept claims from the likes of Fernando Torres that a lack of investment in the squad is to blame for last season's failings.
The Reds manager declared: "As a player you have a chance to change things. If you don't think the team is doing as well as it should, as a player you can do something about it. If you are a big player, maybe you will.
"I don't get involved in that. My attitude is that we want our big players because they will help the team to win. If they are not playing well and not helping the team to win I will be advising them to look into the mirror rather than look for excuses elsewhere and blame the owners for not having spent £500m.
"If we look at Real [Madrid] last season they spent a fortune on two or three players and it didn't give them what they wanted. They didn't win the Champions League or even get to the semis, and they didn't win the Spanish league or the Spanish cup. The two most expensive players in the world par excellence didn't help them get what they want. Are those players then entitled to say :'I should not have come here because the club lacks ambition.' Or is the club entitled to say: 'We spent £150m on you two, we wanted you to help us win.'"
Need your Liverpool news fix? Click here for all Reds news and transfer rumours.