Hansen, who played more than 600 games for the
Merseyside club, is worried that the Liverpool manager is looking
to strengthen the team in the wrong areas.
Benitez is desperate to bring Aston Villa midfielder Gareth
Barry and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane to Anfield, and knows he
needs to raise funds before making any big-name signings.
Benitez appears to be content with Dirk Kuyt, Jermaine Pennant,
Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel providing the ammunition for the
Liverpool forwards. But Hansen feels Liverpool have a weakness in
the wide areas and will not challenge Manchester United and Chelsea
until they strengthen that part of their squad.
Hansen said: "They are getting closer but still need three or
four players. Gareth Barry would be a great acquisition but really
they need wingers.
"United look like they can score goals from anywhere. Liverpool
rely too heavily on the goals of Fernando Torres and Steven
Gerrard. Take them out of the equation and I don't see too many
goals coming from other areas.
"If they go with the squad they already have, their 11 best
players can compete. It's when you go deeper. Premier League
football is not about one team, but two. "People can say what they
want about the money of Roman Abramovich but he certainly raised
the bar in English football. We won the championship in the 70s and
80s – sometimes with great sides, but sometimes with average
teams.
"You can no longer do it with an average team, you have to be
great to win the championship." Benitez has already signed Andrea
Dossena, Diego Cavalieri and Philipp Degen and yesterday he brought
in French striker David Ngog from Paris St Germain for £1.5million.
Ngog, 19, has scored at every youth level for his country and is
reported to have signed a four-year deal.