Liverpool legend calls for 'drastic' changes
Sunday, 21 March 2010 09:36Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol believes the club need to make 'drastic' changes if they are to challenge again for major silverware.
The Reds' only hope of a trophy this season is the Europa League and they have a fight on their hands to finish fourth in the Barclays Premier League in order to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Nicol, who coaches US Major League Soccer side New England Revolution, stopped short of calling for Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez to be sacked but is convinced a lot has to change for the Merseysiders to challenge Manchester United, who they face at Old Trafford today, for top honours.
He told the Independent on Sunday: 'Something drastic has to change because the team is going nowhere and ultimately someone is responsible for that.
'They need players and they need investment.
'They've spent over £200 million so you can't say they've not had money to buy players. If you don't get the right players, you're not going to win games, and you have to say they haven't got the right players as a unit.'
That lack of overall quality, as Nicol sees it, is placing too much pressure on star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Nicol, part of the last Liverpool side to win the domestic league title in 1990, said: '(Gerrard and Torres) look as though they're carrying the whole stadium on their back.
Every time they touch the ball they are under pressure to do something.
'You have big European nights where Gerrard and Torres are winning the games but it is not possible to carry that burden every single time you step on the field.'
