Rodgers: Time to toughen up

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers accepts his side will have to toughen up defensively if they are to challenge for the top four in the second half of the season.

Liverpool have kept only five clean sheets in their last 37 matches and while their manager believes the seven-point gap to Champions League places is by no means insurmountable, they will have to do considerably better at the back.

“There is always a period of pressure you will come under,” said Rodgers ahead of the trip to Sunderland for today’s early kick-off.