Rodgers confident of right Reds response

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident his players will produce the right response at QPR on Sunday.

The Reds boss criticised his players for the "soft" nature of their 3-1 defeat at Stoke on Boxing Day, but he stressed that would be forgotten about when they went out on to the Loftus Road pitch at the weekend.

"The glass is half-full - I'm always optimistic," he said. "Our game the other night was very disappointing in terms of the result. It's really frustrating but I remain always optimistic because of the honesty of the group and the players. It (QPR) is a game in which I'm confident the players will react."

He added: "It's something they've done very well this year. After a disappointing result, they've always reacted and normally very, very well.

"There is no doubt we need to be more consistent. We've shown that on our day we are a match for any team in the league and some of our performances this year have been exceptional, but we have to do that over longer periods and that's something we'll strive for going forward."

Rodgers hopes January reinforcements will help iron out some of their inconsistencies. A deal for Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge has virtually been done, while the club are still pursuing Blackpool winger Tom Ince.

However, sources have distanced themselves from comments by Birmingham chairman Peter Pannu suggesting Blues were in talks with Liverpool over goalkeeper Jack Butland. Speculation has linked Butland with a move to Anfield for weeks but earlier this month Rodgers stressed he was not looking for another goalkeeper in January.

Only a fortnight ago second-choice goalkeeper Brad Jones signed a new contract and, while rumours persist about Jose Reina's future, it seems inconceivable Rodgers would let him go in January, if at all.

"We certainly won't be able to do everything in January that would help us, but we'll be able to make some additions that will help the group," said the Reds boss. "We can look forward to that and then review it again in the summer.

"There are very few names we have actually enquired about, but we're hoping we'll be able to do something in January pretty early on. We need that wee bit more experience, especially at the top end of the field."

Source : http://www.football.co.uk/liverpool/rodgers_confident_of_right_reds_response_rss3646284.shtml