QPR midfielder Joey Barton has slammed the market work of Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

The Evertonian says Rodgers fluffed his chance to find a replacement for Luis Suarez over the summer.

Barton, 32 told the Daily Star Sunday: "Brendan has to take the responsibility as the manager because he had a lot of input into transfers but has come up short.

"The reality is he will get time after the freak season they had last season - and make no mistake it was a freak season, with having no midweek commitments and one of the best players in the world at the top of his game.

"But how can you sell Luis Suarez and replace him with Mario Balotelli?

"Brendan knew how big the void was - 30 goals - and no disrespect to Rickie Lambert but he should not be starting for Liverpool.

"And as for Balotelli, nobody else would touch him. We probably wouldn't at QPR.

"Liverpool spent £116m in the summer and you can't just be a decent side. They haven't evolved and are still reliant on Steven Gerrard.

"I mean, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana didn't get on the pitch against Basel the other day in a game they had to win... the fans are at their wits end."