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Premier League: Brendan Rodgers takes 'full responsibility' for Liverpool form

Image: Brendan Rodgers: Admits Liverpool job is not guaranteed

Brendan Rodgers admitted the buck stops with him after defeat at Crystal Palace made it Liverpool's worst start to a league season in 22 years.

Rickie Lambert's first Liverpool goal proved a false dawn as Palace won 3-1 at Selhurst Park, where Rodgers' side blew a three-goal lead and their last hope of the title back in May.

With almost a third of the season gone Liverpool sit 12th, having won just four times in the Premier League, and anything but a victory at Ludogorets Razgrad this week could mean an early Champions League exit.

And speaking in the aftermath of the Palace defeat Rodgers did not shy away from questions about his long-term future.

He said: "It's my responsibility as the manager - I put the team out there. We go away bitterly disappointed and we have to very, very quickly put things right. We've got a massive game in the week.

The management of the game, that’s experience. We’ve got a lot of young players and players that are new to the club, but we have to be better.
Brendan Rodgers

"I'm not arrogant enough to think I'll be in the job through anything - you have to win games, especially after how we've been developing as a football club.

"I've got a great communication with the owners - we're always honest with each other. I will only ever do my best. My best has seen us develop well and now I need to fight harder and take full responsibility.

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“We are obviously low on confidence at the moment in terms of the results and I think the intensity of our game just dropped right off.

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Brendan Rodgers believes that his side need to stick together despite a sixth defeat of the season

“We concede poor goals, but we’ve got nobody to blame but ourselves. As manager, I take full responsibility for it. We aim to be tighter and more resolute defensively.

“It was a terrific start to the game for us, to get up so early. And well done to Rickie Lambert, great movement, touch and finish to get his goal. I thought he was excellent today, he worked tirelessly up front, touch and movement, he worked very well.

“We get the goal and in a number of games this season we’ve gone a goal in front, and that should be enough. We work on defending, very hard on being compact.

“We never managed the game. We were down to 10 men (with Joe Allen receiving treatment) and were too fast trying to work the ball out from behind, it gets cleared and then the distances are too big and they end up getting an equaliser.

“The management of the game, that’s experience. We’ve got a lot of young players and players that are new to the club, but we have to be better.”

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