Wherever you travel, at any fixed point in the universe, someone, somewhere will be calling for someone to resign. Or be sacked. Some offences, naturally, are worse than others, but if it is not revolting texts or Stone Age opinions provoking the evangelicals into full preach mode, it is losing football matches.

Of the 20 managers in the Premier League, it is the law of the land at least one must be 'on the brink' every Monday morning. So it was that at 3.24pm on Sunday, 10 minutes after the final whistle at Selhurst Park, the first 'Rodgers for the chop?' email dropped from the bookmakers.

A fortnight ago it was Mauricio Pochettino, but Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini have also had it this season. And now Rodgers, greeted to Anfield with a guard of honour and new contract last summer, will have to tolerate the sound of a ticking clock until he stops doing daft things like believing his back four will ever keep a clean sheet in his current formation. His idealistic system of playing Steven Gerrard in front of his back four worked last year but is inappropriate now; his defenders lack clarity of thought and strength of character and need more protection; his goalkeeper is dreadful; his midfield lightweight and unbalanced; and if Liverpool do not recruit a top-class striker, even those predictions of a mid-table finish will seem optimistic.

Many of these issues were raised when Liverpool were winning, and a culture of negligence, possibly even arrogance, has set in across the club where nothing has been done to address glaring inadequacies.

We should not be entirely surprised. Liverpool have done what they do after every good season. They spend so much time patting themselves on the back and dishing out contracts on the back of finishing second that they overlook the bit where Barcelona or Real Madrid take their best player and their domestic rivals sprint ahead. They then revert to defensive mode, questioning the judgement of the critics until the acceptance a couple years later (probably in an autobiography or cathartic interview) that - yes - another chance was indeed missed.

Rodgers must also take responsibility for Liverpool being the easiest team in the country to face. Just let them knock the ball around in their own half for a few minutes and wait for the forward pass that concedes possession. Better still, press their defenders, watch it go back to Simon Mignolet and bingo.

Rodgers' response to questions about his future after the defeat at Crystal Palace hardly quashed the appetite of speculators smelling Irish blood, but for all the blame on him this is still premature. Aside from having only just signed that new deal and still, remarkably still, being in all competitions and only five points off fourth position, there is no appetite at Anfield for another change and the fresh rebuilding process it would involve.

You would also have to ask aside from the obvious dire start to this campaign what would Rodgers really be getting sacked for? Putting his name to the mistakes of others?

Although there are those who insist he has made terrible signings, it is well-documented that it is the committee of which he is a member that will be held accountable by John W Henry, not just the manager.

He may accept public responsibility because it makes him look in complete control of transfers when he never has been, but it is not the truth, and he is clever enough to know there will be an email trail somewhere detailing exactly who brought those eight summer signings (and the rank average Mignolet a year ago). If Rodgers had his way he would have a Dutchman who could pass the ball (Michel Vorm or Tim Krul) in goal, while Ashley Williams would be marshalling his back four. Would he have made a difference? Anyone who watched Wales in Belgium last week might think so.

Some might argue he would also have Clint Dempsey in attack, but the point remains that he is not the only architect of the squad.

It is series of transfer failures that have caught up with Liverpool and an ensemble cast must face up their responsibility. Rodgers is simply the public face of the deterioration.

Dismissing him would also be expensive, and Liverpool - awaiting a Uefa verdict on their FFP status - cannot afford another hefty round of 'termination payments'.

And where would they turn next? One of the attractions of Rodgers was that he was a relatively cheap purchase when he left Swansea City, his immediate predecessors earning between £3m-£5m a year.

Some of the names erroneously linked with the post recently would be on the higher end of that pay scale, making them non-starters.

Liverpool ripped it up and started again when Rafa Benitez left. They did the same after sacking Roy Hodgson, then Kenny Dalglish. For two years the switch to a 'long-term' strategy under Rodgers was working. Another change and Liverpool might as well ask Mike Ashley if they can take the name St James' Park.

Last season was the most enjoyable watching Liverpool for 24 years, but for the first four months of this one it has been as bad as it has been in the same period.

The appetite from some to change after Rodgers' first poor spell is rather suspicious, as many have not really liked the cut of his jib since day one.

Victory at Ludogorets tomorrow would be a start, but the least he deserves is until the beginning of next season - preferably with a transfer committee that finally proved it knows what it is doing.

He cannot let Liverpool sink too much nearer to the bottom three before they start clawing their way towards the top four, however, or, just like those esteemed names who came and went before him, the pressure will become intolerable. (©Daily Telegraph, London)

Irish Independent