The Northern Irishman has been criticised for failing to fix the Merseysiders’ problems at both ends of the field but is adamant he will be able to put things right

Brendan Rodgers insists he remains the right man to lead Liverpool forward despite their indifferent form this season.

In the absence of last season’s 52-goal strikeforce of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, the Merseysiders lie ninth in the Premier League after 15 games – six points off fourth-placed West Ham – and endured the ignominy of being knocked out of the Champions League by Basel on Tuesday.

Rodgers has been criticised for failing to rebuild a functioning attack and fix Liverpool’s persistent defensive problems, but the Northern Irishman is still backing himself to put things right at Anfield.

“I think the message from me is clear: I don’t think there would be anyone better to do the job here,” he told reporters.

“Seven months ago we nearly won the title unexpectedly, I had time to work with players and we took them beyond where the club has been in a long time.

“This has been a difficult start with new players, less coaching time, young players; we are virtually starting again.

“I don’t think there is anybody better equipped to deal with that having been here for the last two and a half years and experienced what this club is about and seeing what we get from the players whenever we are at our best.

“Criticism comes with the territory when you don’t win games. Football is very short term. The same people who are criticising me now were maybe saying I couldn’t do anything wrong six or seven months ago. That is the way football works.

“You have to accept that as a manager and fight even harder to bring success. This period has ensured I will do that for sure.”

The manager is happy to hand the reins to his assistant ahead of Sunday’s clash after a “marvellous” tactical analysis, while Brendan Rodgers harked back to last season’s results

Louis van Gaal says he will rely on Ryan Giggs to fire up Manchester United for Sunday’s Premier League game with fierce rivals Liverpool.

The Dutchman will get his first taste of this highly-charged fixture at Old Trafford but revealed his assistant has left him and the other United newcomers in no doubt about the significance of this game.

In over 20 years as a United player, Giggs played an integral part in helping Alex Ferguson to knock this weekend’s opponents “off their perch”.

“I have an assistant manager in Ryan Giggs and he presented an analysis of Liverpool and he did it in a marvellous way, so I’m very pleased,” said Van Gaal.

Meanwhile, fit-again defender Jonny Evans has dismissed suggestions United are firm favourites to prevail.

The hosts are seven points and six places above their fierce rivals in the table and will be seeking a sixth-straight victory.

Liverpool have failed to reach the heights of last term, including an emphatic 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford in March, following the departure of Luis Suarez, but Evans still expects a stiff test.

“We are in a bit of form in terms of results and Liverpool are not but all form goes out of the window in these games and anything can happen,” Evans told MUTV.

“I haven’t seen many of their games this season, but I watched a bit of the one in the Champions League the other night against Basel.

“Obviously, they were under a wee bit of pressure to get a big result that they didn’t get in the end.

“Luis Suarez has gone and maybe they aren’t as strong, but they’ve still got some fantastic players who can still create magic on the pitch and that is something we will have to be careful of.”

Evans returned from a foot injury to feature in Monday’s 2-1 success at Southampton and will hope to be a touch sharper this weekend following that first outing since September.

“I obviously didn’t start the game but I came on after 15 minutes, so it was good to get a run out and it was a tough game as well,” he added.

“It was very fast paced and I certainly felt that in the first 10 minutes. It has been a frustrating time for me with injuries so it was nice to get back involved.”

United will be without Angel Di Maria, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind through injury, but Phil Jones and Rafael are available again and Van Gaal hinted Radamel Falcao could return to action after being an unused substitute at St Mary’s Stadium.

Liverpool must bounce back from last weekend’s frustrating 0-0 stalemate at home to Sunderland and Tuesday’s Champions League exit following a 1-1 draw with Basel.

However, regardless of the prevailing circumstances, manager Brendan Rodgers accepts facing United is always one of the most important games of the season for his supporters.

“It’s a very important game – it always is,” he declared. “It’s a massive game in the fixture list for this country.

“We got an outstanding performance and result last season and if we can replicate that we’ll be very happy.”

The visitors remain without injured striker Daniel Sturridge but Rodgers reports Adam Lallana in good shape following a rib problem and Mario Balotelli could well return from a groin strain.

“He’s been out for a while but in the last couple of days he’s looked good in training, so we’ll give him every chance to come into the squad,” added Rodgers of Balotelli.

The Italy forward has once again flattered to deceive this season and the legendary coach has sent a warning to the Liverpool man

Coaching legend Giovanni Trapattoni has warned fellow Italian Mario Balotelli that he will look back on his career and realise he has wasted it.

The striker joined Liverpool this summer from AC Milan in a €20 million return to the Premier League, having left Manchester City 18 months earlier.

The ex-Inter striker failed to impress consistently at the San Siro, despite a flying start, and by the end of his spell back in Milan the general frustration surrounding Balotelli sped up his transfer to Anfield.

Again, however, Balotelli has fallen short of expecations. Since his arrival he has only scored twice – once in the Champions League and once in the Capital One Cup – leading many to question why Brendan Rodgers thought the Italian could fill Luis Suarez’s boots.

And Trapattoni, who has trained his fair share of world-class talents and egos during his 40-year coaching career, believes that the 24-year-old will eventually regret his antics on and off the field.

“I do not know how Balotelli’s career will pan out in the future,” the former Juventus and Bayern Munich boss told La Nazione. “But I know that when he hangs up his boots he will realise the many opportunities he has wasted.”

Balotelli has missed the last six games for Liverpool after picking up an injury in November, suffered while training with Italy’s squad for the first time since Antonio Conte was handed the international reins.

While sidelined the Italian has still managed to make the headlines, however, causing controversy by leaving a post on his Instagram deemed by some to be racist, resulting in an FA investigation.