• Premier League

Rodgers: Liverpool allergic to complacency

Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Liverpool are "allergic to complacency" as they bid to bounce back from their shock home defeat to Aston Villa.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce had said that Liverpool and Rodgers might have had one eye on Tuesday's Champions League clash with Ludogorets Razgrad as Villa came away from Anfield with a 1-0 win last weekend.

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"It was their first Champions League game back for many, many years. Maybe that caused a bit of complacency in the performance and Aston Villa took full advantage of it," said Allardyce, whose side host Liverpool on Saturday.

When Allardyce's words were put to Rodgers, however, he said: "No, we are allergic to complacency here. We are not good enough to do that. Villa played well."

It is a sentiment Rodgers has preached before. Not long after taking over at Anfield in the summer in 2012, when Liverpool were yet to re-emerge as Premier League contenders, he said the exact same words, in fact.

That time, Rodgers was referring to an upcoming Europa League play-off against Hearts in late August. Liverpool went on to win the first leg 1-0 at Tynecastle, days after a humbling 3-0 defeat at West Brom.

Rodgers has, though, admitted Liverpool are currently lacking the attacking fluency they used to such devastating effect last season, when they almost delivered the club's first league title in 24 years, putting the problem down to a number of injuries as well as the time needed to integrate his new players.

"We were not playing the same way in March and April last season as we were in September," Rodgers said.

"We played some outstanding stuff last season, but this time last year we weren't playing like that. We developed over the season, and we will do that this time around.

"We are patchy, yes, it's one where players are settling in. Against Tottenham we were outstanding, but the international break upset our rhythm a little bit, as we lost some of our players, and that affected us.

"The players we have signed fit the profile, but it will still take time. The new players are very much adapting."

Liverpool will be without Joe Allen, who will miss three weeks with a knee problem, while Jon Flanagan has been ruled out for three months after undergoing knee surgery.

Daniel Sturridge could be fit to return for next weekend's Merseyside derby while Martin Skrtel is available at Upton Park after missing the last two games.

Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool are suffering from injuries © Getty Images

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