Mark Lawrenson Blasts Summer Signings And Rodgers After Chelsea Loss

Mark Lawrenson believes that Liverpool have multiple problems to deal with in the wake of their third straight defeat, with the former Reds man taking aim at the club's summer signings and Brendan Rodgers' team selections.

Rodgers was accused of planning for a defeat during the week as he kept his big stars aside while Liverpool faced Real Madrid, and if his tactic was to have some players fresh for Chelsea, it didn't come off, with the side losing 1-2 to the table leaders.

And Lawrenson believes that so far this season, after Liverpool spent a huge amount of their Luis Suarez budget buying new talent, the new signings have failed to step up in the striker's absence and keep the side in the fight for trophies.

"We're 11 Premier League games into the campaign so some judgements can be made," he said in the Echo.

"And it's clear none of the summer signings have cut the mustard so far. Alberto Moreno has probably been the best, but you'd still want a lot more from him. Dejan Lovren has been reduced to a complete bag of nerves. Adam Lallana, Mario Balotelli, Javier Manquillo average. Lazar Markovic poor.

"And Rickie Lambert has barely had a look-in.

"Emre Can has fought back from injury, but I'm still not sure what he is. Is he a holding midfielder? A box-to-box one? An attacking one? Which is it?"

He also took issue with Rodgers' decisions over team selections during the last week, insisting that after the second-string players outperformed themselves against Madrid they should have been given a chance on Saturday.

"I just didn't get Brendan Rodgers' team selection in Madrid," Lawrenson explained. "But then I have never really understood the concept behind resting players.

"Chelsea were playing on Wednesday and they put out a pretty strong team in Maribor. But then, they weren't expecting to lose. Which is the accusation facing Rodgers.

"Look, the guys who came into the team in Madrid did okay. But the team needs continuity, and that's been a major problem this season for the Reds."