The Reds were dumped out of the Champions League by FC Basel this week.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers appears to have confirmed that he is a man under pressure ahead of this week’s local derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford by admitting that the club’s owners are “disappointed” with performances this season – although Rodgers did insist that he retains the backing of the board according to reports from ESPN.
SEE MORE:
Premier League predictions for the weekend
Courtois ruled out of Hull game
After only narrowly missing out on a first title in over two decades on the last day of the season to Manchester City last season, it had appears that former Reading and Swansea City manager Rodgers would be the man to bring the glory days back to Anfield – but a failure to cope with the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona this summer has seen the club’s form collapse.
Rodgers now faces a crucial week in his battle to prove that he is the man to continuing taking Liverpool forward, with season defining Premier League games against bitter rivals United and potential top four rivals Arsenal sandwiched by a tricky League Cup tie against high flying Championship outfit AFC Bournemouth.
Despite the premature exit from the Champions League, which means the club will now turn out in secondary continental competition the Europa League, and poor form in the Premier League, Rodgers insisted that he and the board retain a close working relationship despite their disappointment:
“One thing I’ve always had with the owners and the players here has been that solidarity. We’re very much a tight group.”
“Of course, the owners have seen the progress over the last couple of years and, like us all, are disappointed with how it’s been this season.”