Rodgers tells Downing to fight for place

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has told his expensive misfit Stewart Downing to raise his level and fight for his place in the side.

The England international, signed for close to £20million in the summer of 2011 by Rodgers’ predecessor Kenny Dalglish, had a poor first season last time out and has fallen out of favour under the new management regime, failing even to make the bench for the loss to Manchester United last Sunday.

But Rodgers believes the winger has a future at the club if he’s prepared for the challenge.

“Stewart is a good guy and a good lad who came here for an awful lot of money,” he said. “It hasn’t quite worked out for him as he would want it.

“The big challenge for him now is that commitment to the cause to fight, because he has the qualities.

“He has a wonderful left foot but what is important is that it is more than talent. Talent alone is not enough.

He continued: “You have to work hard, you have to fight for the shirt.

“We have seen that in a number of the young players and if you don’t do that then longer-term you won’t be here. It is as simple as that really.”