Former Liverpool player Ray Houghton says that the Reds must break their wage structure if they are to win the Premier League.
This comes after more news that winger Raheem Sterling has rejected £100,000-a-week contract to keep him at Anfield. Following this Houghton says his former side cannot compete with the league’s top spending.
The owners are going to have to try and do something about it. Whether they are willing to, only time will tell."
After a fantastic run of form from Brendan Rodgers’ side, two demoralising defeats against two main top four rivals – Manchester United and Arsenal – has left the Reds seven points adrift of the top four places
"Liverpool are not in that area when it comes to actually spending and paying out on wages. They can only bring in a certain calibre of player.
"That may have to change if they are going to really be competitive to win the league and be competitive once they get back into the Champions League."
Last summer, key player and driving force to Liverpool’s success, Luis Suarez was sold to Barcelona for £75m, while the biggest fee Liverpool forked out was the £25m to Southampton for Englishman Adam Lallana.
Fellow title challengers in league such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal spent £59m on Angel Di Maria, £35m for Alexis Sanchez and £32m on Diego Costa respectively.
The Irishmen added: "I don't think Liverpool can compete with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United when it comes to paying wages.
"You look at some of the players at their clubs reputedly on £250,000 to £300,000 a week.
"Liverpool can't pay that. I think that the highest-paid player is Daniel Sturridge and I heard that figure is about £150,000 a week."
