Boss eyes change in fortune

Speaking at his press conference at Melwood, the manager said: "The players have been outstanding in their work but with us being a sporting team and going by the letter of the law and the rules, decisions seem to pass us by.

"We've had a few sendings off and a few penalties given against us but I hope that changes. We can't control injuries but we certainly hope that we will get better decisions over the next couple of weeks.

"I always send my teams out to be sporting and to try and respect everything that we have in the game. Over the next number of weeks I will certainly be looking for a wee bit of good fortune in terms of some of the decisions we have got.

"I ask players not to dive and to stay on their feet. This is a club with ethics and good values and we spread that to the players. We want to win games and to win it in the right manner and in the most sporting way that we can.

"That won't change but my point is that by doing that, we need to make sure that the players don't get punished because that's certainly what has happened."

Rodgers revealed how he contacted head of Premier League referees Mike Riley on Thursday morning to discuss his feelings about recent decisions.

"I just said to Mike that we have to be careful that we don't discourage players who try to respect the game because for us, it's how we work and it's how I ask the players to play," he said.

"We want to win the game but we want to win it by fair means. For me, in this opening period of the season that hasn't worked for us.

"I think we just need to be careful that by diving onto the floor and going down, it means that you may get the decision whereas if you stay on your feet you may not. That was the point I was making to him.

"It has just become quite obvious, especially after Wednesday night's game. Jordan Henderson had a horrendous challenge (against him) in the game and the player (who fouled him) was not even booked. One of my young players Andre Wisdom made a really good tackle and won the ball and got booked for it.

"It's just something that I feel is important; that going forward, we're not targeted. The likes of Luis Suarez have had a good couple of appeals where he hasn't dived and where it looks like we could get a penalty but he has been booked.

"So that was my point to Mike. Hopefully that will change. It will be a shame that players who are trying to respect the rules and managers who are asking players to stay on their feet, are not getting the decisions because of it.

"In the game you have lots of real honest players and terrific players and if by going down it gets them a decision, then ultimately players will do that. But that's what we don't want in the game. That's been a criticism over the last few years of players going down too easily and getting penalties their way.

"Mike was excellent. He does a terrific job because, as you can imagine, being head of the referees is not an easy role.

"And I've got to say that lots of the referees I have come across are very, very good in their work but I just wanted to represent the football club because we have had so many decisions that haven't gone our way and I just wanted to raise that point."