Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits his job is at risk

Brendan Rodgers admitted that he was not immune from the sack after Liverpool slumped to a demoralising 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace and he called for an immediate improvement from his side in Wednesday’s crucial Champions League match against Ludogorets.

Although Rodgers did not spare his players from criticism after a fourth successive defeat in all competitions, accusing them of failing to show enough intensity or togetherness against a Palace side who had not won since the end of September, he accepted that the responsibility for Liverpool’s poor form ultimately lay with him. This latest setback leaves them 12th in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, and Rodgers did not shy away from answering questions about his future.

“I’m not arrogant enough to think that I will be in a job through anything,” Rodgers said. “Any manager will tell you that you have to win games and you have to get results, especially after how we’ve been developing as a football club. But I have a great communication line with the owners. We’ve been honest enough with each other but ultimately you have to get results. You have to perform. In my first year when we weren’t maybe getting the results we were performing well.

“Owners and directors and chairmen and chief executives have to see development on the field. Barring this period, our development has been very good and fast. But there’s no doubt as a manager you have to get results. That will support the confidence to the owners, and you take it from there. I will only ever do my best. The best has seen us develop well. Now I need to fight even harder. And take the responsibility because as manager full responsibility comes down to me. Any pressure comes on to me.”

Credit: Jacob Steinberg/theGuardian