Manchester United Legend Paul Scholes: Liverpool Did Not Buy Well Enough in Summer Transfer Window

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has slammed Brendan Rodgers and has blamed his summer signings for Liverpool's poor form this season.

The Reds had an impressive run in the Premier League last season, finishing two points behind champions Manchester City. During the summer transfer window, the Merseyside club allowed their star player Luis Suarez make a switch to Barcelona.

The funds raised from the sale of the former Ajax striker helped Liverpool bring in nine new players to the club and the list includes the likes of Rickie Lambert, Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic, Divock Origi, Dejan Lovren, Mario Balotelli, Alberto Moreno and Javi Manquillo.

Liverpool are seventh in the table and have 14 points after 10 matches and Scholes says the Reds' poor transfer business is having an impact on their results.

"Last season they came close to winning their first title in 24 years, and they played well. Now we keep hearing that they are in "transition". They are in transition because they did not buy well enough in the summer," Scholes told the Independent.

"I feel they needed to concentrate on signing one top striker, one top midfielder and one top centre-half. Instead they spread their net too wide. Once again we go back to Liverpool's signings in the summer."

"They did not recruit well enough. They are relying on the same players as last season to bring them through the big games. Rodgers said as much before the Madrid game, that it was time for those who had not been playing to take responsibility."

Rodgers rested skipper Steven Gerrard, along with other first team players during the Reds' crucial Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

The former United midfielder believes Rodgers can get the best out of Gerrard when striker Daniel Sturridge returns from injury.

"Teams are only as good as their strikers and Liverpool's have not been good enough since they sold Luis Suarez and lost Daniel Sturridge to injury," the Old Trafford favourite said.

"A player like Gerrard thrives on having a striker who is always on the move, opening up angles with the intelligence of his running. When Sturridge comes back he will give them that."

"Liverpool's squad is not strong enough to allow Gerrard the rest he needs, even taking into account the performance in Madrid by a mainly second-string XI."

"In my last few years at United we had the strength in depth that allowed the manager to be selective with my games. But Rodgers clearly feels that he has no alternative with Gerrard," Scholes stressed.