Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers: “Now I need to fight even harder” after loss to Crystal Palace

The Reds lost a fourth consecutive game in all competitions after going down 3-1 to Crystal Palace and Rodgers’ side are now 18 points off the pace of Premier League pace-setters Chelsea.

Brendan Rodgers, manager of Liverpool looks on in the rain during their Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on November 23, 2014 in London, England. Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Brendan Rodgers knows his position as Liverpool boss could start to come under scrutiny if their current poor form continues.

The Reds lost a fourth consecutive game in all competitions after going down 3-1 to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon and Rodgers’ side are now 18 points off the pace of Barclays Premier League pace-setters Chelsea.

Their Champions League campaign hinges on Wednesday night’s clash with Ludogorets and a second season fighting for the Premier League crown appears a long way off.

Things looked good for the visitors when Rickie Lambert scored his first Liverpool goal less than two minutes into the game at Selhurst Park but, after Dwight Gayle’s equaliser, Palace score twice in three second-half minutes through Joe Ledley and Mile Jedinak to end their own barren run.

Letting a three-goal lead slip at Selhurst Park at the back end of last season played its part in costing Liverpool a proper shot at a first title in over two decades but Sunday’s defeat could also have ramifications.

Eagles’ manager Neil Warnock was the man whose future was reportedly in doubt heading into the game but it was Rodgers who was left answering difficult questions about his own tenure.

“I’m not arrogant enough to think that I will be in a job through anything,” he 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.

“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.

“We’ve brought in very good players. Some of them are very young and are not going to be ready for a few years, but they’re in now. We have to do better in our performance level.”

Warnock felt his side would have given any Premier League defence a run for their money and reserved particular praise for winger Yannick Bolasie, who set up two of Palace’s goals and was a constant menace to the Liverpool defence.

“If I was a full-back, I wouldn’t want to play against him,” Warnock said of his Congo international.

“He doesn’t know what he’s going to do next, so the full-back doesn’t have a chance, does he? He came in (from international duty) on Friday. He trained yesterday, dug deep and responded. I couldn’t have asked any more.

I’m disappointed we didn’t score more. I think we’d have done that to most teams today. That’s just this league in general. If you take anyone lightly, you can get turned over.

“We can cause any team in the league problems if we play. We need to sort out clean sheets. Julian (Speroni) didn’t have too much to do today but we conceded early doors again. One long ball and we ball-watched and were punished. I’d love to get some clean sheets on board.”

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