Reds have hit rock bottom - Hansen

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has written off his former club’s title hopes this season and claimed they hit “rock bottom” in their New Year’s Day defeat at Newcastle.

The former Scotland international refused to join the criticism of under-fire boss Gerard Houllier but advised the Anfield manager to abandon the rotation system which many believe lies behind the present crisis.

After looking certainties to mount a sustained Premiership title challenge this season, Liverpool have now gone 10 league games without a win, slumping 12 points behind leaders Arsenal and seven adrift of Manchester United.

The 1-0 reverse at St James’ Park was a particular low point, with Liverpool failing to match their hosts’ commitment levels then having Senegal midfielder Salif Diao red-carded.

“On Wednesday at Newcastle, Liverpool hit rock bottom,” Hansen told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Not only did they not play well but the commitment was poor as well. At the moment they seem to be taking one step forward then three back.

“No wins in 10 games tells its own story and there are no excuses. The team is not scoring a lot of goals and letting too many in, which is a horrible combination.

“They are struggling for confidence and things seem to have gone from bad to worse.

“Gerard has had two or three injuries to key players but the ones who have come in are not as good as we thought they were.

“Now they are 12 points behind Arsenal and seven away from Manchester United. If you are being realistic Liverpool need to win 14 and draw one of their remaining matches and then hope the other two teams fold. I can’t see that happening.”

Hansen has called on Houllier to re-establish the siege mentality which used to surround Anfield during the glory days.

“You have to close ranks – make it us against the world,” he said.

“Liverpool are a big club, everybody expects and anticipates such a lot from them. But Manchester United and Arsenal have had their critics this season. It is no different for Liverpool – and rightly so.

“Gerard has this rotation system which has worked well in the past but it doesn’t seem to be working well now.

“I played at Liverpool for 14 years and whenever we got into any trouble at all – which meant four or five games without a win – Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish would all say ‘that is my best team and I am going to play it’.

“The number one priority is to get out of trouble and the only way to do that is to win football matches. Gerard has to pick his best team and go from there.”

Hansen believes Houllier should concentrate on securing a top-four spot which would guarantee Champions League football next season.

Swiss side Basle dumped them out of this year’s competition, while the spectre of Nicolas Anelka stood over Houllier today in the difficult FA Cup tie at Manchester City.

Anelka looked certain to become a Liverpool player in the summer after impressing during a loan spell at the end of last season.

However, Houllier had a sudden change of heart, which still mystifies Hansen.

“I watched Nicolas play against Newcastle at Anfield and it was the best centre-forward performance I saw last season,” he said.

“I would have signed him and Gerard must have like him when he brought Nicolas to the club.

“We don’t know what happened but the end result is Liverpool’s loss and Manchester City’s gain.”