Premier League: Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool have reached a turning point

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has conceded he might be one of the favourites for the sack, but believes his side has reached a turning point following their midweek draw against Ludogorets.

He said the 2-2 draw in Sofia was an “excellent performance” and is looking to build on it in Saturday's Premier League match against Stoke City.

“We’re hoping that our season really began the other night (against Ludogorets), and obviously it will only count if we can take it into tomorrow’s game," he said.

A few months ago I was manager of the year, now I'm favourite to get the sack.

“I thought it was an excellent performance, we were very competitive in what was a tough game. Everything has been hunky dory for about 18 months and on the up, but it’s a different deck of cards this year, it’s a different hand we’ve been dealt, we just need to focus on the now.”

Wonderful

Rodgers also accepted that bookmakers had listed him, alongside Paul Lambert and Harry Redknapp, as the most likely managers to be shown the door.

"A few months ago I was manager of the year, now I'm favourite to get the sack," Rodgers said. "It’s part and parcel of this wonderful life of working in football. Very short term-ism.

"But all you can really do is really focus on the immediate job and focus on what you can control. So for me it’s about working with the players, really consolidating and defining, providing even more clarity in the roles of the players, the function of the team."