Intro:

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers speaks ahead of side's Premier Leaugue game against Stoke

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager:

(On being sacked)

"It's football, you know, a few months ago I was the manager of the year and now I'm favourite to get the sack. It's part and parcel of this wonderful life of working in football, very short-termism, no thinking and thoughts around it, but all you can do is really focus on the immediate job and focus on what you can control."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager:

(On Simon Mignolet)

"The club paid a lot of money for Simon to come in and he's saved us in some games, a number of games in my time here and Simon's form is just like the team, you know, we all need to be better collectively, as a squad and as I said he's coping well. It's never easy, I've always said however, it comes, criticism, whether it is deserved or not, you won't like it. So it's part of the sport."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager:

(On game with Stoke)

"No. I think every game at this level is very, very difficult, you know, Stoke have gone away and have had two good results away from home against Manchester City, they've already won and against Tottenham. So they'll be happy enough, despite the record, to come away and try and get a result."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager:

(On finishing in the top four)

"The points total for the team in fourth position this year is the lowest it's ever been in the Premier League, so it tells you it's a unique league this year and our first objective, like it was last season, was to be fourth. If you can guarantee fourth then you look towards third and work your way up through the table and if we're working on that basis and looking at that we've still got big improvements to make in a big chunk of the season, then we're right in with a chance, because I believe that we will get better."