Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has slammed the behind-the-scenes television documentary that is currently being aired across the United Kingdom, insisting that legendary Reds manager Bill Shankly “would be turning in his grave”.

Being: Liverpool follows the club on their pre-season tour of North America in the lead-up to the 2012-13 Premier League season and has also been shown in the United States.

Lawrenson, a five-time league champion on Merseyside, dismissed the programme as “American schmalz” and believes that the club hierarchy should be focusing on improving results on the pitch.

“What on earth is Brendan Rodgers doing in this programme Being: Liverpool? I’m sorry, I just think this show comes across as American schmalz,” Lawrenson writes in his column for the Daily Mirror.

“It’s totally ill-advised and some of the stuff that I have seen so far in the first three episodes is cringeworthy.

“I think everybody shares that point of view. The problem is, once you get American owners intent on doing it and intent on getting everyone involved it’s extremely difficult.

“Well, at the moment the club isn’t doing particularly well. The soundbites are great but it’s plain for everyone to see that there is a lot wrong.”

The Match of the Day pundit claimed that famous former bosses such as Shankly, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan would be shocked by the broadcasting of scenes such as one involving chief executive Ian Ayre.

“One other thing. The show I saw on Saturday ended up with Ian Ayre, the chief executive, jumping on his Harley Davison and riding through the city,” Lawrenson added.

“Come on!! Shankly would be turning in his grave. So would Paisley and Fagan and all of those Liverpool legends.”