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BRENDAN RODGERS has warned that some members of the Liverpool squad need to improve or risk being taken out of his long-terms plans at Anfield.

The Reds manager has reminded his under-performing stars that they must start to justify their salaries.

Rodgers was bitterly disappointed with the manner in which Liverpool folded at Stoke City on Boxing Day and says his players must show greater character – and on a consistent basis – if the club are to start climbing the table.

“If a club is paying top dollar for top players, then you have to produce. It’s as simple as that,” Rodgers said.

The 39-year-old has made it clear to his squad, as they prepare to face Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tomorrow afternoon, that playing for Liverpool demands high standards.

He said: “To play for a club like this there are certain requirements that you need and they’re not all just technical or tactical.

“You can’t have a good game at Liverpool Football Club and then three days later have a poor game.

“This is every game of your life, this is Liverpool. You play well in one game on a Saturday and then you have to play well the next game.

“Then three days later you have another match and you have to be at the top of your game.

“You have to do that for years because that’s why you’re at a big club.

“I have had some time to assess that because of the real smallness of the group.

“That’s part of the job, a big part of the job.

“It’s not easily solved because it’s not like maybe other sports where you can just tell someone ‘that’s it’ and show them the door. It’s a club that pays big money.

“It takes time unfortunately.

“We want to make progress but unfortunately because of the position we’re in it’s going to be slower progress than what people would want.

“That’s the nature of it unfortunately. We just have to have the courage and unity as a club to stay together. I couldn’t have asked any more of the supporters.”

Rodgers is refusing to shy away from Liverpool’s league position either.

Though he has been buoyed by the way his side have competed against the league’s top sides at certain points this season, Rodgers knows their standing as a mid-table outfit at present is an accurate reflection of their campaign.

“The table doesn’t lie,” he said.

“We are in 10th position. We’ve shown against many of the top teams that we have the game to compete.

“Against some of the other teams we have shown wonderful demonstrations.

“But it has to be efficient and consistent.

“That’s the single biggest word.

“We have boys that want to come in and work every day, but it has to be consistent.

“Goodness me, we’re sat 10th in the league and the reality is that this club should be higher. But we’re not. Unfortunately that’s the way it is and we aim to improve on that going forward.”

Rodgers, meanwhile, rubbished suggestions from Birmingham City that Liverpool are interested in signing goalkeeper Jack Butland in the January transfer window.

Luis Suarez is to be passed fit for tomorrow’s game in London whilst Lucas will continue to be handled carefully, Rodgers says.