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My job is not safe, admits Rodgers

Liverpool players are low on confidence, according to Brendan Rodgers © Getty Images

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Brendan Rodgers admitted his job is by no means safe after Liverpool slumped to a "disappointing" 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Liverpool led through Rickie Lambert's first league goal of the season but, after Dwight Gayle's equaliser, Rodgers' side conceded two late goals as they slipped to a third consecutive Premier League defeat.

The loss leaves Liverpool 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea and just two ahead of Palace, while the result also makes it the club's worst start to a Premier League season since 1992-93.

Rodgers: Sterling low on confidence

• Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers defended Raheem Sterling's contribution following their 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
• Sterling appeared jaded and did not have the brightest of matches as Liverpool slumped to a third straight Premier League defeat.
• Rodgers told the BBC: "He's played a lot of games. There is a lot of pressure on the young player. He's not an unknown and is a marked player.
• "Raheem's confidence is not quite as high and the intensity not quite as high. He's an outstanding talent - he's going to have little spells like that."

"It was bitterly disappointing," Rodgers said of the defeat. "You've seen a team low on confidence today. Not quite together as a team. We need to find a solution very quickly because it was very disappointing.

"I put the team out there, the best team to win us the game. We made a good start. You could see our passing was a bit tentative and then we make mistakes. Mistakes you wouldn't expect to see at a team that's supposed to be challenging.

"Overall, that intensity and togetherness in our game isn't there. When you don't get the results, it affects you. That leads to [damaged] confidence. We have to work harder but we go away bitterly disappointed with the result. At this moment, we're just not good enough."

Rodgers knows results must improve if he is to avoid facing questions about his future and conceded he is not immune from the sack at Anfield.

He said: "I'm not arrogant enough to think that I will be in a job through anything. 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.

"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. 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."

The defeat echoed Liverpool's setback at Selhurst Park last season, when Palace scored three times in 11 minutes to all but end their opponent's title hopes. Rodgers said his side must now go "back to basics" if they are to regain the level of performance that saw them finish second to Manchester City last campaign.

"The confidence is low - we need to find a way," Rodgers told BBC's Match of the Day. "This has been a new phase - a lot of games, a lot less preparation time. We can't complain - we have to find a way to get results and show real size and power of the club. We need to get back to the basics."

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