Former Liverpool defender Neil Ruddock feels his old club should sign Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote.

Ruddock believes Liverpool are most in need of the Ivorian enforcer.

"They need to sign him [Tiote] to break down play and give the freedom to [Steven] Gerrard and [Luis] Suarez," Ruddock told DailyStar.co.uk.

"Liverpool are too nice, they don't have enough men. These days Anfield's a nice place to go and play - you're not going to get run around or get kicked off the park.

"You used to have Graeme Souness or Ronnie Whelan, people like that. They need someone like a 24-year-old Souness, Roy Keane or Paul Ince.

"They have to have a plan B where they can all roll up their sleeves and get stuck in."