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Jamie Redknapp says it would be “madness” to sack Brendan Rodgers as he insisted Liverpool FC need to keep faith with their underfire manager.

The Reds find themselves out of the Champions League and slumped in the bottom half of the Premier League table ahead of Wednesday night’s tricky Capital One Cup quarter-final trip to Championship leaders Bournemouth.

“A few months ago Brendan was manager of the year and now look at the pressure he is under,” Redknapp said.

“I don’t think they should change him. That would be madness. I like Brendan, I think he is good. But he has made mistakes this season and he is suffering for them

“It’s been humbling for him. He just needs to ride the storm but there will be no bigger test than this one here.”

Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester United was the latest setback during a season of struggle. Liverpool wasted a string of glorious chances at Old Trafford and paid the price as their defensive weaknesses were punished.

“I didn’t see the positives for Liverpool on Sunday that other people did,” Redknapp told the Daily Mail.

“I never at any point thought they would win. They are devoid of all confidence. It’s sweeping through the team.

“And now they have resorted to playing without a centre forward. That’s a bad situation.

“The players they have bought haven’t been good enough. Not yet, anyway. It hasn’t worked and Brendan must take responsibility for that.”

Tomorrow’s showdown at Dean Court sees two of Redknapp’s former clubs go head to head.

The midfielder played just 13 league games for Bournemouth before Kenny Dalglish took him to Anfield in 1991. He stayed for a decade and made 308 appearances for the Reds.

Redknapp believes Liverpool will have their work cut out trying to halt Eddie Howe’s in-form Cherries side, who went top of the Championship with a 5-3 win over Cardiff City on Saturday.

“I don’t think Liverpool will keep a clean sheet here,” said Redknapp. ‘I don’t think many clubs would. This lot are a good side.

“I was chatting to Eddie and he was telling me how he likes to play attacking football on the front foot.

“I like the way he uses his full-backs going forward. Eddie is looking forward to this and I can see why.

“If he picks his first 11 then this will be every little bit as hard as the game at Old Trafford for Liverpool. It could be harder.”