'We owe it to fans to keep up fight'
Brendan Rodgers has delivered a message to his squad heading into the remaining eight games: you owe it to the supporters not to let the season peter out.
The manager is seeking an immediate response to the defeat at Southampton when his side travel to Aston Villa on Easter Sunday.
And Rodgers is adamant that there is still plenty to fight for between now and the end of the season.
"It's very important that this season doesn't peter out," he told reporters gathered at Melwood.
"It can't do. Supporters are going to pay good money, home and away, to come and watch the football club.
"This is a club where there is institutional pride. Of course, we always want to be challenging for trophies but if that's not the case, you need to represent the shirt and the city.
"Every game is vital. We're playing for professional pride. We're at a stage in the season where we don't have a trophy to play for but we still have to fight.
"The players here never have a lazy day. I commented this morning after training that a lot of them had flown around the world [for international games] and yet the intensity and the training that they all put in was outstanding.
"This is a club where you never, ever have an easy game. And every time you play, you are representing great supporters. So for us there's everything to play for. We'll keep going right to the very end."
The Reds travel to Villa Park on Sunday eager to make amends for a disappointing loss to Villa at Anfield in December 2012.
Chances were not taken early on in that game and as a consequence Paul Lambert's men were able to strike on the counter attack and clinch a shock victory.
"It was probably the most disappointing game of the season up until that point because we were in good form going into the game," reflected Rodgers. "We'd started the game well and if we had got the early goal, the story could have been different.
"But in a way, it was a turning point for us because after that game, we had success, which shows me that the group are ready to respond.
"We analysed the game and we improved. From then on, our goals, our mentality improved significantly."
Lambert's side are currently embroiled in a relegation fight that has taken a turn for the better in recent weeks, thanks to crucial wins over Reading and QPR.
Rodgers has monitored their progress and he is all too aware of the challenge that awaits on Sunday.
"I went to watch Villa against Manchester City a few weeks back. They were unlucky. I'm sure they'll keep going right to the end," said the manager.
"They're fighting for points and they come into the game on the back of two good results home and away. So we understand the difficulty that they will pose.
"Lambert is an outstanding manager. He's come into a very tough job and over the last few years, it's been tough at Aston Villa.
"I've always said that over time he'll turn the club and the team into a side that can challenge and will be competitive."
When Villa are the next team on the fixture list, one man's name consistently crops up in conversation.
Christian Benteke has fired 13 league goals this season - two of which came at Anfield in last year's defeat.
"He has done very well," said Rodgers. "He's shown in a number of games that he is a real handful and he's a big, strong player, who has a good touch. He attacks the ball really well. He's been a real reference for their team.
"He will certainly be one that we need to look out for at the weekend."