Steve McManaman: ‘Liverpool’s fringe players are not good enough’

“I am not looking for any reassurances, it is not something I am seeking or am anxious about”, he said ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton.

In his second game back last weekend he scored twice against Aston Villa, delighting Rodgers with the way he combined with new signing Danny Ings.

Brendan Rodgers’ men are in ninth place in the Premier League table after having taken 11 points from their first seven top-flight games.

“I try to tell them that because it’s something they won’t experience in their life outside those four walls”.

Pressure is mounting on the Liverpool manager following a hard start to the season which has seen the club secure just one win from their last eight matches.

Divock Origi and Lallana had a hatful of chances to win the game for the Reds and Rodgers admits Liverpool must improve in front of goal. Ultimately for us the aim is to win the game.

The Toffees have not beaten Liverpool in the last nine attempts in the top flight. Celtic manager Ronny Deila admitted his side need to work on defending set plays after conceding a goal from a corner.

“It’s a long season and we will make progress as the season goes on”.

Liverpool continued to pummel the Norwich box, and Sturridge had his best chance yet on the half-hour mark as a very bad giveaway by the Canaries in their own half allowed Lucas to slot through the England global alone on goal, but with a defender closing down fast, his hurried shot was acrobatically saved by John Ruddy.

“To give away a goal like and create as many chances as we did, you’ve got to have enough quality to finish and that was unfortunately the story for us. It just shows you’re a big club”.

A first defeat for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby since October 2010 would only increase the pressure on Rodgers during the up-coming worldwide break.

“I’m sure if he doesn’t get the game time here at the moment there will probably be a loan period for him“. “We respect that it’ll be a tough game but it’s a game we really want to win for us as a team and obviously for our supporters”.