Liverpool announcement 'a smokescreen' for club's failings - Robinson
Paul Robinson has claimed Liverpool announced new contracts for Jordan Henderson and Nat Phillips on deadline day as "a smokescreen".
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs and England number one suspects the club used the news to mask their lack of transfer activity.
The Reds confirmed on deadline day that captain Jordan Henderson and defender Nat Phillips had penned new long-term deals at Anfield.
However, there was no new signings on Tuesday, much to the disappointment of a section of supporters.
Liverpool's only signed one player in the summer window - centre-half Ibrahima Konate - despite finishing third last season.
When asked by Football Insider's Dylan Childs if the contract renewals were strategically announced, Robinson said:
"I think it was a smokescreen for the lack of activity in the transfer market.
"We have seen their big players sign new contracts, the likes of Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, which is very, very clever. But, understandably some of the fans don't see that as enough.
"The squad of players they have are good enough to challenge. When you look around the Premier League, a lot of clubs have the issue of their players running down their contracts.
"Liverpool clearly didn't have the money to spend in the transfer market as they would've liked but keeping their top players deserves equal recognition.
"The timing of the announcements is interesting though. It is quite clearly a smokescreen."