Liverpool should have tried harder to retain the services of talisman Luis Suarez, according to ex-England midfielder Joey Barton.
The controversial striker will join Barcelona in the coming days after the Reds agreed to sell him to the Catalan giants.
Queens Park Rangers man Barton is looking forward to seeing the 27-year-old link up with Barca star Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp but was shocked to see Liverpool arrange his sale.
He said on Twitter: “Some front two Barca have now with Messi and Suarez. Can’t believe Liverpool didn’t fight harder to hold on to him.
“No disrespect but when are they ever going to get a genuinely world class player, who works as hard for the team, as Luis Suarez again?”
Barton also feels it will be difficult for Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers to find a suitable replacement.
He added: “He’s was arguably the form player in the world last season. How do you replace that? Big test for Rodgers and co.”
Suarez will put pen to paper on a lucrative five-year deal once he has passed a medical but will not be immediately available for selection, as Fifa has banned him from all football activity for four months.
The punishment was dished out following his bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini whilst on World Cup duty with Uruguay.