Former Liverpool striker David Fairclough has rejected Kenny Dalglish’s suggestion that tiredness was the explanation for the club’s 2-1 defeat at home to Wigan on Saturday.
The Reds great won six league titles and three European Cups in the late 70s and early 80s, becoming known for his influential appearances as a substitute.
"I don't go along with the tiredness excuse. I think the players have to stand up and hold their hands up and say they haven't performed," he told Sky Sports.
"I think Kenny's covering a little bit for the players. Kenny is an incredibly passionate competitor and he won't be taking this lightly.
"It's not like Kenny to come out publicly and slam the players - he did it once earlier in the season after the Bolton defeat and it worked and he got a reaction - but you can't come out week after week blaming the players.
"I think behind the scenes he'll have a slightly different attitude and he'll be letting the players know that clearly they're not playing as well as they can do. They're letting everybody down at the moment."
Fairclough also insisted that it was important to retain perspective and not to be too concerned with a poor run of form that has seen the Reds win just two of their last 10 Premier League matches.
He continued: "At the moment everybody's feeling a bit down and they're saying one or two things that maybe they don't necessarily mean. There's a little bit of hysteria about the place.
"But it's a results business and results are key. While people are getting all excited, I think we've got to stick together, start doing the basic things well again and just make sure you do what you do well week after week."
The former Anfield favourite acknowledged the club’s success in winning the League Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup, having knocked out Manchester United on the way, but made clear his view that the league should be the club's priority.
"Liverpool have been enjoying some success in the cup competitions, but that shouldn't be allowed to deflect from what the real goal is," he pointed out.
"The main goal for Liverpool Football Club is to be winning the Premier League again and up there fighting with the top teams. We haven't done it for so long and you can't afford to let it go continually. Clearly Liverpool have not been doing that this season.
"That is really the focus and whilst enjoying the cup wins and cup runs we have to make sure we have that consistency about our game and get the results that we are capable of.
"The side maybe isn't the most perfect team at the moment, it does need strengthening in one or two positions, but there's a lot of experience in that squad and some very good players in there."
Dalglish himself admitted his side’s shortcomings on Monday following the defeat, telling The Liverpool Echo: "I think we've got good players.
"It's a good squad and I have always said we have got that. You don't get to an FA Cup semi-final and win the Carling Cup if you aren't.
"But we've got a problem winning games in the league. Maybe there is a lot we have to educate ourselves about and maybe not have to play the lovely football we try and play. Maybe we need to change our philosophies a wee bit."
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