Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers: 'Sack rumours part and parcel of football'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has brushed off rumours concerning his future at Anfield after bookmakers tipped him to be the next Premier League boss to lose his job.

The Northern Irishman, who guided the Reds to second in the league last season, has struggled to replicate that form, having overseen his team win just four games out of 12 in the league so far.

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp was recently touted as a possible replacement, but Rodgers has insisted that he does not feel affected by the rumours.

"Everything has been hunky-dory for 18 months, but we've been dealt a different deck of cards this year, a different hand," Rodgers said in this afternoon's press conference. "What has happened before has gone but that's been the making of us. In sport, you get the chance to go again.

"We got a result the other night against Ludogorets, it was a good performance, we were competitive and we take this forward.

"The bookmakers expect me to lose my job - it's football. A few months ago, I was manager of the year, now I'm favourite to get the sack. It's part of working in football. All you can do is focus on the immediate job and focus on what you can control."

Liverpool will host Stoke City at Anfield tomorrow as they attempt to end a three-game losing run.