Lallana calls for Liverpool unity

Adam Lallana says Liverpool’s players must “fight for their lives” to turn around the club’s form – starting on Wednesday.

Sunday’s defeat at Crystal Palace was a fourth in succession, and anything but a win at Ludogorets Razgrad could see Brendan Rodgers’ side eliminated from the Champions League before the week is out.

Liverpool great Jamie Carragher led the criticism on Sky Sports after Sunday’s game, accusing Liverpool’s players of allowing themselves to be bullied, while Rodgers has admitted his job could be under threat if results do not improve.

Now Lallana has called on the players to take responsibility, telling the club’s website: “We need to stick together. It’s as simple as that. When you’re having a tough time as a team, you all need to stay together – you can’t start becoming individuals.

“We win and lose as a team; we need to stay together, keep fighting and keep working for each other. We have got a tough game on Wednesday so we all need to be together for that one.Competition

“We need to win to stay in the competition, so the lads will be fighting for their lives to do that. It’s important, not just for ourselves, but for the fans, the manager and everyone involved with Liverpool Football Club.”

Liverpool have already lost as many league games – six – as they did during the whole of last season, when they sustained a title challenge until the final week.

Speaking at Selhurst Park, Rodgers said: “It’s my responsibility as the manager – I put the team out there. We go away bitterly disappointed and we have to very, very quickly put things right. We’ve got a massive game in the week.

“I’m not arrogant enough to think I’ll be in the job through anything – you have to win games, especially after how we’ve been developing as a football club.”

Martinez: Lukaku can become ´best striker in the world´

Everton manager Roberto Martinez heaped praise on striker Romelu Lukaku, claiming he has the ability to become the “best in the world”.

After making a slow start to the 2014-15 Premier League season, Lukaku has returned to the form that saw Martinez spend a club-record £28million to make the Belgium international’s stay at Goodison Parkpermanent.