'Keep the faith, lads'

The Reds saw their 11-game unbeaten sequence halted at Craven Cottage on an evening when a number of key refereeing decisions went against them.

The 1-0 scoreline left the club five points away from fourth-placed Chelsea but Clarke is adamant that changes are not required.

"The message is always the same, to keep working as we're working, to believe in the direction we're going in," the first-team coach told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Just keep the faith and keep playing in the manner we've been playing.

"It's about reassuring the players that if they continue to work the way they're working, their luck will turn. Decisions will start to go our way, and efforts like Jordan Henderson's in the first half, instead of hitting the post and coming out they'll hit the post and go in.

"There is no need for drastic changes. We were on a fantastic run before we lost on Monday night. We probably didn't play as well as we have done in recent weeks but we certainly did enough to get something from the game."

Luis Suarez received a second FA charge after the Fulham game but his attitude during training has not been affected, according to Clarke.

He said: "Luis has had things hanging over his head for a number of weeks now, which is unfortunate for him, but he's a great professional. He comes in every day, does his work and looks forward to every game we play."

Meanwhile, the Scot has backed Pepe Reina to bounce back following a mistake which led to the Fulham goal on Monday.

Asked how the Spanish goalkeeper had responded this week, Clarke said: "As you would expect, he comes out in training and he works hard. Pepe's qualities are there for everybody to see.

"He made a mistake, he knows he made a mistake and the top goalkeepers, the reason they're at the top of their profession is because they know how to deal with their mistakes and Pepe is no different to that."

This weekend sees newly promoted QPR visit Anfield.

Manager Neil Warnock has guided the Londoners to a healthy 12^th position with what is the second oldest side in this season's Barclays Premier League.

Clarke thinks recruiting experienced players like Joey Barton and Luke Young is paying dividends.

Click on the image below to watch our pre-match chat with Clarke

"Over the years a number of teams have tried that tactic (of buying older players) and it has worked," he said. "If you have people who understand the division and know what it takes to get a result then it can only be of benefit.

"All three promoted clubs have come into the division and done well. They've attacked it and got good results.

"QPR had a little injection of money before the transfer window and they've spent wisely."

Another new recruit this summer was Shaun Wright-Phillips, a player Clarke worked with at Chelsea.

The coach added: "I know Shaun quite well. When he was at Chelsea he was used as a squad player, he didn't play maybe as much as he wanted. He got a chance to go back to Manchester City but with the developments there after he signed, he found himself becoming a squad player there as well.

"He loves to play football, he wants to be involved, and moving to a club like QPR would almost guarantee him a start every week and I imagine that's why he made the decision to go.

"He's a good player, a good character on and off the pitch - bubbly, lively. If he gets the ball he can always cause you a problem, so it's up to us to deny him time and space on the ball."

One player who won't be involved this weekend or for the foreseeable future is Lucas Leiva, who underwent knee surgery in his native Brazil this week.

"As far as we're aware everything has gone well but for an in depth answer on the Lucas situation you'd have to go to the medical department," said Clarke. "He's out in Brazil and the next stage now for him is his rehabilitation.

"The medical department will be in constant touch."