Alan Shearer: 'Brendan Rodgers needs a trophy this season'

England legend Alan Shearer has suggested that Brendan Rodgers will be sacked as Liverpool manager if he fails to deliver a trophy this season.

Rodgers has spent heavily on the likes of Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino this summer in retaliation to a disappointing end to last season's campaign that saw the Reds eventually finish sixth in the Premier League.

However, Shearer thinks that Rodgers will be under "huge pressure" to attain silverware after a summer outlay that has so far totalled over £75m.

The former Newcastle striker told BBC Sport: "Brendan's spent a lot of money again. He has to achieve success this year, he has to win something.

"Also, with the change of his backroom staff, the way [the sackings of Mike Marsh and Colin Pascoe] happened, I'm not sure that you have a trusted lieutenant right throughout your career and then you come to the end of the season and because you've had a poor season say 'we're going in a different technical direction'.

"That doesn't sit easy. Something smells a little bit there. Brendan will be under huge pressure."

Rodgers's Reds begin their new campaign with a trip to Stoke City next month.