Liverpool must front up to save season

Arsenal 4 Liverpool 1: Brendan Rodgers always talks a good game, but now his Liverpool players have to give voice to his optimism if they are going to save their season after this humbling defeat.

They are fifth in the Premier League table, six points behind Manchester City, who play their game in hand at Crystal Palace tonight.

Rodgers, though his team was thoroughly outplayed by Arsenal, thought the result was not a fair reflection of the afternoon, did have the grace to concede the result rules them out of a return to the Champions League next season with just seven games to go.