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Former Blackburn midfielder Lars Bohinen has questioned Roy Hodgson's suitability to managing Liverpool.
The pair worked together when the 63-year-old was manager at Ewood Park in the 1997-98 campaign but Bohinen, 41, has spoken out by claiming that his former mentor's style of play since moving to Anfield as pressure grows following a difficult start to the new season.
Whilst the ex-Norway international acknowledges that Hodgson is the best coach he ever worked under, he feels that his approach is better suited to a club who are accustomed to grinding out results rather than at Liverpool, where success is something of a requirement.
"There is no element of surprise to Liverpool's current style of play," he told TV2.
"It's all about passing the ball, but without any clear idea behind it. Players such as Gerrard and Torres are unable to shine in this formation and Roy Hodgson is the one to blame for this.
"I've worked under him in the past and he's the best coach I've ever had. However, he focuses too much on the defensive structure of a team.
"He doesn't really have a clear philosophy when it comes to attacking football. He used a similar style of play at Blackburn Rovers, Inter and Fulham.
"Hodgson is the right man for a club that wants to defend a certain result, but I'm not sure whether he's the right man for Liverpool.
"His preferred tactics suit a club like Fulham, but he's not much into attacking football and creative players. I expect [Steven] Gerrard and [Fernando] Torres to continue suffering under Hodgson."
A solitary win against West Brom stands out amongst two draws and two defeats in the Reds' opening five league games ahead of tomorrow's visit of Sunderland and Bohinen believes that Hodgson's players have to shoulder some of the blame along with their new manager.
He added: "To begin with, Liverpool's squad is simply not good enough at the moment. The spine of the team lacks the class and leadership qualities to compete with the big teams.
"Pepe Reina is a class shot stopper, but Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel are no leaders at the back. Steven Gerrard is the natural leader of the team, but he has been struggling to find his best form. Fernando Torres is a good player, but no leader.
"Additionally, Liverpool have done a poor job in the transfer market. Milan Jovanovic is not good enough in the one-on-ones and turns inward way too often.
"Christian Poulsen's action radius is too low and he hardly passes forward. Then Paul Konchesky is very vulnerable at the back. Raul Meireles is a good player, but he needs time to settle in."
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