The Uruguayan striker has scored 19 goals in 14 Premier League appearances this season, but the Reds boss is keen to promote the club’s lofty position as a group effort

Brendan Rodgers insists that Liverpool are not a one-man team – despite Luis Suarez’s performances dominating the headlines this season.

The striker has notched up 19 goals in the opening half of the 2013-14 Premier League campaign, despite missing the opening five games due to a ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Despite Suarez’s dominance, Rodgers is keen to prove his less-talked-about players are playing their part.

“This is a group that has always been labelled as a one-man team,” Rodgers told reporters.

“When Luis was playing, it was a ‘one-man team’. He came out and we still continued to get results; Daniel Sturridge came out and we continued to get results; Steven Gerrard came out and we continued to get results.

“Importantly, on top of that, we got performances. We work in a certain way that aligns everyone into that model so everyone knows when they come into the team they know their job and specifically what they’re doing.

“We’ll always be reliant on the team ethic. We’ve got more injuries but I see it as an opportunity for players that maybe haven’t featured or played so much.

“They have now got to stand up and show that they can be involved a lot more regularly. That’s what I expect over the next couple of games.”

Injuries have weakened Rodgers’ squad – with the Northern Irishman forced to use 18 year-old debutant Brad Smith as a substitute against Chelsea – but he was unmoved when asked about January incomings.

“There’s nothing to add on anything with regard to players coming in,” he said. “There’s nothing imminent.

“Obviously the recruitment team are busy putting things together in terms of the profile of players we need here to improve the team and the squad.

“The owners have invested millions upon millions into the team; every window we arrive in looking to improve it where we can. This window will be no different.”

The Northern Irishman is remaining upbeat on his side’s hopes of being crowned champions come May – despite consecutive league defeats

Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool’s home form will be crucial to the club maintaining their Premier League title bid.

The Merseysiders have travelled to Tottenham, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton already this season but have only taken four points from those five matches.

Consecutive defeats to City and Chelsea have seen Rodgers’ side drop from top on Christmas day to fifth in the table, six points adrift of leaders Arsenal. The Northern Irishman, though, has not ruled his side out of the title race and feels Liverpool’s home matches will prove crucial, with all of the above sides yet to visit Anfield.

“I think it’s (the title race) open,” he said after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge. “What I’m looking forward to is we have to play every team (at the top) except Manchester United at home.

“We’ve had a real tough run, all the games – Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle, Everton – all of them away from home.

“Anfield’s a tough place to come. We have to play all of them at home; it’s still very much open. We were top at Christmas, a few days later we’re fifth, that’s how it will go between now and the end of the season.”

Liverpool currently have 36 points from 19 league fixtures, which represents their best tally at the halfway stage since the 2008-09 campaign, in which they finished the season as runners-up. Hull City travel to Anfield on New Year’s Day.

After two losses in a row, Brendan Rodgers brings his side back to Anfield to face the Tigers and our tipster is backing early strikes

After a fantastic start to the season, Liverpool will be glad to see the back of 2013 after two straight defeats away to two title contenders over the Christmas period. They next welcome Hull City to Anfield, who themselves have had an eventful few days.

Steve Bruce’s side thrashed Fulham at the weekend 6-0, which has lifted them to 12th in the league. This astonishing result followed a tough match against champions Manchester United.

The Tigers lead 2-0 after 13 minutes, only to see David Moyes’ side strike back three times to take all the points.

Hull come into this match without a win away in their last seven, but did beat Liverpool at the KC Stadium earlier in the season. Betway price them at a long 10/1 (11.00) to cause another upset.

Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back after defeats on the road to Manchester City and Chelsea which has seen their hopes of winning the league start to slip away.

The Merseysiders have been fantastic at home though, winning their last six matches, and it’s no surprise that Betway price them at just 11/50 (1.22) to take all three points. The same firm price the draw at 5/1 (6.00).

In all of Liverpool’s last six home matches, the -1 handicap bet would have paid out and would have been worth backing in this fixture. However, the price of 11/20 (1.55) with Betway doesn’t seem to offer any value.

A bet that has paid out on numerous occasions in Liverpool matches this season has been over 1.5 first-half goals.

This would have landed in eight of the Reds’ last nine matches and with the price of 5/4 (2.25) with Betway that this will happen again, it’s far to good to turn down. After two straight defeats on the road, expect Suarez and Co. to come out of the blocks firing on New Year’s Day.

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