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Steve Nicol: Liverpool Are Going Nowhere And Need Drastic Change
Former Red calls for wholesale Anfield changes…
Mar 21, 2010 7:53:21 AM
By Gill Clark
Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has called on the club to make “drastic changes” this summer and insisted the Reds are in desperate need of players and new investment.
A miserable season at Anfield has seen the Merseysiders dumped out of the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League and facing a battle just to finish fourth in the Premier League.
Nicol, who is now coach of MLS side the New England Revolution, has insisted that big changes are needed at his former employers.
"Something drastic has to change because the team is going nowhere and ultimately someone is responsible for that,” he told the Independent on Sunday.
"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."
The former Scottish international also explained how he felt too much pressure was placed on star men Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, which was not helping the players.
"[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,” he added.
"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."
However, despite their problems the 48-year-old also insisted his former team could beat bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"Liverpool can go to [Manchester] United and win but the roles are reversed now,” he explained.
“When we were winning the League, United always raised their game when they played us. Now it's the other way round."
Nicol spent 14-years at Anfield as a player, winning five league titles, three FA Cups and one European Cup.
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything related to the beautiful game
A miserable season at Anfield has seen the Merseysiders dumped out of the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League and facing a battle just to finish fourth in the Premier League.
Nicol, who is now coach of MLS side the New England Revolution, has insisted that big changes are needed at his former employers.
"Something drastic has to change because the team is going nowhere and ultimately someone is responsible for that,” he told the Independent on Sunday.
"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."
The former Scottish international also explained how he felt too much pressure was placed on star men Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, which was not helping the players.
"[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,” he added.
"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."
However, despite their problems the 48-year-old also insisted his former team could beat bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"Liverpool can go to [Manchester] United and win but the roles are reversed now,” he explained.
“When we were winning the League, United always raised their game when they played us. Now it's the other way round."
Nicol spent 14-years at Anfield as a player, winning five league titles, three FA Cups and one European Cup.
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything related to the beautiful game
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