Good afternoon! Brendan Rodgers is due to speak to the media in around 15 minutes as his side prepares for a tricky trip to Old Trafford this weekend to face Manchester United.

The Northern Irishman has been under pressure, particularly in the last few days following the team's exit from the Champions League. According to some reports, the club is already looking for his successor, with Jurgen Klopp and Andre Villas-Boas both having been linked to the role in recent weeks.

Last weekend saw the Reds held to a goalless draw by Sunderland, leaving them ninth in the table, six places behind this weekend's opponents. Liverpool have won just twice in their last seven league outings.

The squad took time out from their preparations for this match to visit Alder Hey hospital yesterday. Here's a picture from their trip:

Brendan Rodgers and the #LFC squad pose for a group photo during their visit to Alder Hey today pic.twitter.com/1wuUjptQ4Z — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 11, 2014

After this match, Liverpool will host Arsenal before a trip to Burnley at Boxing Day before home matches against Swansea and Leicester. The Anfield side also have an FA Cup tie against League Two's AFC Wimbledon in the first week of January.

Don't forget we'll have live coverage from this match from an hour before kickoff on Sunday, as well as plenty of post-match reaction and analysis.

Rodgers has already spoken to the media this week following the team's exit from the Champions League. He told reporters: "We can't have any excuses about not qualifying. We had enough games. The big game was away in Basel where we were disappointing. If you deserve to go through, you go through. For us it is simple, we haven't been good enough over the course of the competition to go through. We have to take it on the chin."

Right then, Rodgers is ready to go, so let's see what he has to say...

Rodgers starts with speculation that Raheem Sterling is stalling over contract talks with the club. The manager says: "If you look at Raheem's performances that does all his talking. He is very happy here. I know Raheem very well and you can see he is happy here."

Rodgers admits that this is a big match for his side: "This is always a massive game in the fixture list in this country. We had an outstanding result there last season."

Rodgers is asked about his squad's fitness. He reveals: "Mario has only just come back training after his injury. We will give him every chance to be part of the squad on Sunday. Lallana looks much better now and he should be fine."

Rodgers insists that he can turn around the team's form: "For us it's about looking to improve our performance level. My teams have always shown we get better over course of the season. I am more determined than ever to succeed here. You want to be at a club with this kind of expectancy."

Sticking with the topic of rebuilding his team, Rodgers adds: "It's very similar to the first six months, similar to the beginning when were in transition and getting used to a way of working. I'm determined. We enjoyed the title race and we still have a long way to go."

Amid speculation that he could be on the verge of being sacked, Rodgers reveals that he spoke to the club's owners just yesterday: "Our communication is open, we spoke last night and it's about reinforcing what we've done well. But planning and keeping the club moving forward. That's the key objective for them."

Rodgers insists that his players know that they need to play better: "They know what's expected of them, it's Liverpool Football Club, it's one of the biggest football clubs in the world. But we want them to perform consistently, which hasn't been evident this season for whatever reason."

On this weekend's opponents, Rodgers says: "Manchester United have won five in a row, and are still getting hammered [in the media]. People are paid to be critical but all we can do is concentrate on what's happening inside our football club."

Rodgers is asked whether Liverpool should have bought more quality players in the summer. He responds: "That's what the club tried to do. We believe the talent here will grow and show it's top-class talent. It wasn't for the want of trying."

Well, that's all from Rodgers, so make sure you join us again on Sunday to find out if Liverpool can end Man Utd's winning run. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.