Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer believes Jurgen Klopp's side need to develop a battling edge to their game - like leaders Chelsea - if they want to win the Premier League title this season.
The Reds have dropped to fifth place in the standings following a poor start to the year, which has seen the club lose to top-flight strugglers Swansea and Hull and draw the rest of their matches to Chelsea, Manchester United and Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte's league leaders Chelsea only dropped points when they lost 2-0 away to Tottenham at the beginning of January before being forced to settle for a point at Anfield last week.
McAteer thinks Liverpool need to start recruiting players who have a "bit of horribleness about them" like Chelsea striker Diego Costa, and believes the Reds - who play Tottenham at home this weekend - can no longer win the Premier League this season.
Speaking exclusively to 888sport, he said: "I always feel like Liverpool are a nice bunch of boys. A nice team with players you could take home to your mum.
"You look at Chelsea and there is a bit of horribleness about them. [Diego] Costa and [David] Luiz and even [Gary] Cahill to an extent. It’s a battle for them. It’s becomes horrible.
"Since Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard retired there have been big shoes that haven’t been filled but you can’t make a leader, they’re born. So I’d like Liverpool to go into the market and bring in someone with those leadership qualities."
When then asked about Jordan Henderson's leadership qualities within the Liverpool side, McAteer said: "I’m not taking anything away from Jordan Henderson who has been a terrific captain. Like Moyes and Ferguson it’s always extremely difficult to take over a legend at a football club and replicate what they did.
"Jordan is his own man and leads in other ways: by his performances and actions. He isn’t one for pointing and screaming. Liverpool need someone like that who digs out players."
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He added: "Hopes of winning the title went against Chelsea. We were looking for three points against Chelsea and then Arsenal doing us a favour and then the gap would have been four points. Then it would have been game on.
"The draw ruled out the league which is a shame and now Tottenham are the only realistic challengers."
Read the full 888sport interview with Jason McAteer, including his thoughts on why Liverpool will struggle against Tottenham, here.
