With Liverpool losing almost half their matches with just under a quarter of the season gone it's no surprise that Rafael Benitez is coming under scrutiny.

And it's Benitez who comes under fire from former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore in his Daily Mirror column.

Stan thinks that Liverpool need reshaping from the top down, and that includes getting rid of Rafa. Clearly, no case of "In Rafa We Trust" here. He certainly doesn't pull any punches.

Liverpool have no chance of winning the title this season and I fear the club are going backwards unless drastic changes are made.

I was at Sunderland to see Rafa Benitez’s side slump to their fourth defeat in the Premier League already this term.

And at the risk of upsetting Liverpool fans again, I think there must be huge changes at the top of the club immediately to salvage anything from the season.

Liverpool supporters have been outspoken in their criticism of me after I declared they had only three title-winning players in their side in the shape of Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

But without the latter pair at the weekend, Benitez’s side were appallingly bad at the Stadium of Light.

I don’t ever remember playing as poorly for Liverpool during my time at the club as their front men did on Saturday at Sunderland.

And I take no pleasure writing this as I genuinely would like to see Liverpool win the title this season.

You can forgive players who are out of form but I can barely recall a strike on target or an opportunity created by Liverpool.

The side appeared physically lightweight to me and compared to the likes of Chelsea recently, Liverpool look like skinny boys versus men.

He goes on...

I genuinely believe the only way the club can move forward is by getting rid of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

I am so incensed by the behaviour of the hapless American pair - they must sell up now.

After trying to flog the club on the quiet following their ill-fated takeover, they should have the guts to come out and say they are too small for the job and without any class.

Crucially they don’t have the money for the job either.

And while we are changing the guard at Anfield, boss Benitez should go too.

As excellent as Rafa was when Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, he should make way for a winner.

And that winner is former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who is now doing a fine job at Inter Milan.

Liverpool fans are notoriously loyal and believe Benitez is the heir apparent to Kenny Dalglish, Joe Fagan, Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly.

But Rafa is not fit to lace their boots in terms of management ability.

Liverpool played three centre-halves at Sunderland and teams haven’t been doing that for years.

I thought overall Liverpool’s display was the first performance where I can hand on heart see they are going backwards.

Our other pick of the day comes from the Daily Mail, and Martin Samuel's words of wisdom.

He thinks Manchester City should grant Robinho's PlayStation wish and pack him off to Barcelona in January.... and replace him with a 24-year-old Brazilian who has twice failed in Europe and plays for Brazil's answer to Blackburn Rovers.

Atletico [Mineiro] have a star, though, in striker Diego Tardelli. His winning goal against Sao Paulo, a simple prod at the back post, was his 15th of the season and made him the league’s joint top goalscorer alongside Adriano. Tardelli is, as you would expect, lightning fast with great feet and an eye for goal.

Once the star of Brazil’s Under 20 team, he was considered a certainty to progress to the Selecao but lost his way amid failed loan moves to PSV Eindhoven and Real Betis. Tardelli tumbled through the ranks of the major clubs, leaving Sao Paulo for Flamengo and finally Atletico. Now 24, he is said to have matured and has recently won two caps with the national team. There is talk of a move to St Etienne in France but, recently, Manchester City have been linked with him.

City are said to be in for everybody these days, but the association with Tardelli is worth examining. It comes at a time when a more famous Brazilian already at the club - Robinho - is playing up and exploiting a rumour connecting him with Barcelona for all it is worth. Robinho, who has never looked comfortable as part of City’s project, clearly sees a way out and if Mark Hughes, his manager, is sensible, he will, too.

That does not mean, though, that City cannot be home to a Brazilian. They just need to pick the right Brazilian.

Hmm....