Manager Brendan Rodgers was jeered by Liverpool fans during the 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Anfield, and then conceded that his club’s title ambitions are all but over. Rodgers’s decision to substitute Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho 20 minutes from the end brought catcalls from the crowd.
Rodgers said: “I did not feel we were creating enough and I wanted to create some momentum by bringing on a second striker [in Rickie Lambert]. I can understand what is going on, the fans are a big part of what we are doing, they have seen us lose three on the trot and they are not used to that. But we will keep fighting, we always do.
“The focus for us is now getting into the top four, but we are not getting the results.”
Liverpool are 15 points behind League leaders Chelsea, who won with goals from Gary Cahill and Diego Costa.
Rodgers, who brought in players worth more than £100m in the summer, was angry with referee Anthony Taylor, who failed to penalise Gary Cahill for two clear handballs, the second of which blocked a Steven Gerrard shot in the closing moments.
“We are very disappointed by that,” Rodgers said. “This was a big decision in a big game – a clear handball. The referee had a clear look at it, but that sums us up at the moment, we are not getting the rub of the green.”
Chelsea, still doggedly pursued by Southampton, are the outstanding team in the Premier League, Rodgers conceded. He did not appear confident Liverpool would be catching them.
“They are a strong, very experienced squad to which they have added quality,” the Liverpool manager conceded.
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