Former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp believes Rafael Benitez's "bizarre" decision-making has shattered the Reds' hopes of claiming a first championship since 1990.
The Spanish manager has been subjected to fierce criticism this week after his team made it three straight draws with a disappointing 1-1 stalemate at Wigan on Wednesday night.
Benitez's cryptic post-match dissection of another mediocre performance was greeted by widespread ridicule, while he has also been accused of destabilising the club recently with a rant at Manchester United rival Sir Alex Ferguson, his refusal to sign a new contract and with his marginalisation of striker Robbie Keane.
The net result has been that red-hot United have surged clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and Redknapp does not believe Benitez's side will be able to make up the gap.
"Liverpool are going backwards," he wrote in the Daily Mail.
