Three people in the spotlight this weekend

At this stage of the season, the pressure is on every club to hit form before the fixtures begin to pile up over Christmas.

However, some individuals need success more than others, and Sports Mole has singled out three people who need to deliver the goods over the next few days.

1. Brendan Rodgers

Not for the first time, the Liverpool boss finds himself on this list, but that is what an exit from the Champions League will do to you. In midweek it was a 1-1 draw with Basel which ended Liverpool's hopes of adding to their long list of achievements in Europe's biggest competition. The Europa League awaits them in a few months, but the priority is certainly improving their Premier League form.

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If Rodgers is going to prove to his critics that this squad is good enough to finish in the top four this season, he needs to cut out the below-par performances as quickly as possible. In truth, Liverpool haven't always looked assured when they have won games this season, and the displays in defeat have not been good enough.

A trip to in-form rivals Manchester United is the next challenge. United have won five successive games to increase hopes of a surprise title bid, and they will win a few of their own doubters over if they can deal with Liverpool at Old Trafford. The pressure is on Rodgers. It seems incredible to think that his job could be under threat after his side's excellent form last season, but sadly, that's how it works in modern football. A triumph over Liverpool's fierce rivals could inspire the team heading into the hectic Christmas schedule. Rodgers knows more than anyone that time is running out to deliver.

2. Dusan Tadic

When Southampton were at the top of their game a month ago, no player was receiving more praise than Tadic. Since moving to the Saints in the summer, the Serbian has produced a string of fantastic displays to strike fear into Premier League defences. However, four games without a win and three defeats in a row have seen Ronald Koeman's side lose their momentum, and Tadic's form has suffered as a result.

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Defeats to Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United haven't been down to terrible performances. In fact, Southampton can count themselves unlucky to have not picked up points in the matches. Tadic hasn't been letting the side down either, but when you set such high standards, supporters expect you to hit the heights every week. The 26-year-old has the quality to win games for his team week after week, and his teammates need him to be at his best now more than ever. Koeman takes his side to Turf Moor to play Burnley on Saturday afternoon. If Tadic is on top of his game, this disappointing patch of results could be remembered only as a blip, rather than the start of something much worse.

3. Saido Berahino

Everyone in football seems to suffer from memory loss. Just check the two examples above for more evidence. In the past few weeks, people have forgotten about the buzz which surrounded Berahino in the early stages of the season. The West Bromwich Albion striker scored seven goals in his first nine Premier League games of the campaign to force his way into the England squad for the first time. However, the goals have dried up since then. A run of six matches without finding the net has followed, and the Baggies are slipping down the table as a result.

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Last weekend, West Brom boss Alan Irvine took the surprising decision to leave Berahino out of the starting XI for the draw with Hull. It was a choice which was criticised by many, but Irvine has since claimed that he expects his forward to react positively to the disappointment. The Baggies are in a relegation battle, and they could be in the scrap to survive for the rest of the season. Transfer speculation will return if Berahino finds his shooting boots again, and the 21-year-old is likely to attract interest over the next two windows. However, West Brom need him to fire if they are to pull away from the danger zone, starting with Saturday's game against Aston Villa. Irvine's job could depend on it.