Steve McManaman has called for someone at Everton 'to be held accountable' for 'wasting money' on players over the last few seasons following their 4-1 defeat in the Merseyside derby.
Mohamed Salah scored twice in between goals from Jordan Henderson and Diogo Jota for Liverpool as they inflicted a biggest home derby defeat on the Toffees in 39 years.
Demarai Gray did score for Everton but under-fire boss Rafael Benitez failed to find any other inspiration from his substitutes, with midfielders Anthony Gordon and Fabian Delph as well as striker Cenk Tosun all coming on in the second half.
The Spaniard's options on the bench also included Alex Iwobi, Jonjoe Kenny and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, as well as youngsters Jarrad Branthwaite, 19, and Lewis Dobbin, 18.
But McManaman claims Benitez's options prove money has been wasted at Goodison Park in recent years, and insisted the club cannot continue to rely on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina, who have struggled with injuries this term.
'Somebody, I don't know who it is, has spent a lot of money at Goodison,' former Reds winger McManaman told Amazon Prime Video. 'The new owners have come in and spent a lot of money.
'You cannot be relying on Dominic Calvert Lewin when things start going wrong or Yerry Mina who is a good centre defender.
'When you looked to the bench today and what they could bring on there was nothing there. So who's wasted this money on these players? Because someone has to be held accountable for it.'
Everton - who have previously spent lavishly under Farhad Moshiri's ownership - were restricted to spending just £1.7m in the summer as the club attempted to reduce their losses which have reportedly amounted to more than £250m in the last three financial years.
They are now struggling on the pitch too after their defeat to Jurgen Klopp's men extended their winless run to eight games, with Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Leicester all to come before Christmas.
And McManaman believes the Toffees are now heading for a relegation battle, which he claims will signal the end of Benitez if it occurs as well as a January battle with Premier League bottom club Newcastle for players in next month's transfer market.
'They are going to be in a relegation battle,' McManaman added. 'What if Calvert-Lewin has a relapse or gets injured when he plays again? Because they'll be in serious trouble then.
'They're crawling towards the bottom and their run of games until Christmas is hard 'If they go into the relegation zone, Rafa will be out. So then someone else will have to come in and they're battling with likes of Newcastle for players.'
Kucbcksuyz
0
who are you in the first place
Naycdknr
0
No good players want to play for NEverton.
ZHENGXUAN911
0
Wasted 500m and still fighting for the top 6
zunmoprst
1
Macmanaman.. u have no business commenting on Everton, let them be.
He's high on expired weeds, how does spending of a club affect you and make your brain turned upside down, you're better off as a clown rather than a football analyst, where are you when Everton was doing well at the beginning of the season, though results are not coming due to injury to some key players, but did you assume that statement to Man United when they're in the same situations ??, throughout your playing carrier, what did you achieve as a top player you claimed to be, nothing, absolutely nothing, better keep quiet and let's those who cares do the talking and not an idle person like you.
rehaekorty
0
I think Everton bought a Chinese copy of benitez. the real benitez us still coaching in China.
rehaekorty
0
someone at man utd should also be held accountable for all the money wasted on coaches and and for the high salaries players are getting and the high prices paid for players. something is wrong at man utd . from where does the money come and who benefits from it. ed Woodward? man utd accounts is not transparent coz of many bad decisions. I guess there is lots of frauds and corruption at the club. many people are appointed and you don't know what they are doing. who takes decisions and man utd. who decided to extend solksjaer contract and then sack him with a big compensation. man utd management is very fishy.
ak3000
3
He may be wearing Blue, but his heart beats Reds
Colito
0
Sack him Newcastle will employ him
Nevesashkelon
1
lampard in now
ALJAUFY77
2
Benitez must go,he let go of James Rodriguez
MzyaS
2
Macmanaman.. u have no business commenting on Everton, let them be.
but i guess that's what pundits do
Kukbkmnt
2
Macmanaman.. u have no business commenting on Everton, let them be.