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• ‘Liverpool are in worst state in 50 years,’ says Hansen
• ‘Benítez made too many mistakes in transfer market’

Alan Hansen has warned the new Liverpool manager faces years of rebuilding following Rafael Benítez’s departure.

Benítez’s six-year stay at Anfield ended by mutual consent yesterday, with the club’s managing director Christian Purslow and Kenny Dalglish – the manager when they last won the league title in 1990 – leading the search for the new man.

But Hansen, who won eight league titles and three European Cups during his 13 years on Merseyside, believes Liverpool are arguably in their worst state for over 50 years and the squad is weaker than when Benítez succeeded Gerard Houllier six years ago.

“I would imagine that the board will have a good idea who they want to bring in, but I don’t have a preference, other than wanting somebody who will buy well and who will take the job under no illusions about the challenge he faces,” Hansen wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

“Whoever comes in faces a mammoth task. You could be looking at three to four years before Liverpool get to where the club should be.”

Benítez’s most costly moves were in the transfer market, according to Hansen.

The Scot added: “Benítez made too many mistakes with too many players. In recent seasons, he hasn’t got any right beyond Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and, possibly, Glen Johnson. He has spent too much money on average players and we are now seeing the fruits of that.”

Rafael BenítezLiverpoolguardian.co.uk