Brendan Rodgers acknowledges his job at Liverpool is under threat but pledges to fight on

BRENDAN Rodgers has given a sombre press conference in which he accepts his position has been called into question but he remains defiant.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Brendan Rodgers the manager of Liverpool looks on during the Capital One Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Carlisle United at Anfield on September 23, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers has acknowledged his job is under threat but has pledged to keep fighting whether he’s at Anfield for “one day, one month or one year more”.

Rodgers has come under intense scrutiny after the Reds’ struggling start to the season in which they are winless in five games in all competitions and languishing in 13th place in the league.

Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp have long been linked with the Liverpool job, and the whispers have grown even louder after the 1-1 home draw with Norwich was followed by a narrow midweek win over fourth-tier minnows Carlisle in the League Cup.

Asked if he felt his position is in danger, Rodgers couldn’t muster much defiance.

“I’m never complacent enough to think it never has been,” he said at a downbeat press conference. “You need to be at your best every day when you come into a club of this stature, and thrive on that positive fear. It does not affect me. I have a belief in what I do. We nearly achieved great things. We have a new group of players and we are looking to take it forward. I do not shy away from the fact we need to get results and perform well.”

Brendan Rodgers has come under increasing pressure due to poor results this season.

“When you are a manager of a club this size there is always going to speculation around your job and when you don’t win that will intensify. Since I have been here I think there have been 10 managers linked with job. That is part and parcel of the game.

“I have regular contact with the owners and the relationship is always strong. Whether I am here for one day more or one month or one year more I will always have respect for the people here, the owners and [the chief executive] Ian Ayre. I will do what I will always do and do the best I can. If you don’t get results the pressure is there but I enjoy challenges. I walked in here as a 39-year-old manager and as I sit here now I am much better manager, but I understand I must get results. We know with one win you are back near the top four.”

Rodgers once said in an interview he hoped to be Liverpool manager for 20 years, but he accepted on Friday that wouldn’t be the case — at the same time as promising to battle on.

“I don’t think the pressure goes away unless you are winning games and getting the performance level,” he added. “I hope to be a manager for 20 years. I know it won’t be 20 years at Liverpool but while I am here I want to fight for the club and the players. They have worked hard and are working harder than ever. We will look to start again.”

Rodgers said Christian Benteke would miss the match against his old team Aston Villa on Saturday due to a hamstring injury, while Dejan Lovren (ankle) and Roberto Firmino (back) are also not in contention.

Originally published as Brendan Rodgers acknowledges his job at Liverpool is under threat but pledges to fight on