Liverpool fans need to understand that they are not a big club anymore and do not have as much pull as Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City.
That is the belief of ex-Leeds United and England international Danny Mills, who told BBC 5 Live Liverpool are not what they once were.
He said: “This might send the Twittersphere and social media world mad. I think Liverpool fans have to realise that they are not quite the pull that stye used to be.
“They are not one of the biggest clubs in the world anymore.
“Yes they have the history. They have this unbelievable [history].
“They haven’t won the Premier League for how long? Yes I know they have won the Champions League in there but teams now will be looking at Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea before they think about going.
“And they will be looking abroad before they think about going.”
Mills also commented on the Van Dijk saga and insisted that Liverpool should just spend the money on the Southhampton defender.
Mills also ridiculed the suggestions that Liverpool “tapped up” Van Dijk.
He said: “They should, for whatever reason, haven’t got the deal done. And if they don’t need the money, why have they not paid it?
“It’s absolute nonsense that he had been tapped up. Every single player on the planet gets tapped up.
“That’s why agents exist. That’s exactly what they do.”
Van Dijk is desperate to sign for the Reds and has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move away.
However, Southampton maintain he will not be sold before the transfer deadline next Thursday.
Liverpool have four points from their opening two Premier League games and host Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal tomorrow at Anfield (4pm).