Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert insists the players have to stand up and be counted as boss Brendan Rodgers cannot take all the blame for their disappointing start to the season.
Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace - the Reds’ fourth in succession – increased the pressure on Rodgers and he accepted his job would be on the line if things do not turn around.
However, Lambert says the players owe it to their manager to start taking responsibility.
"Most of the players know what the gaffer said. It is full credit that Brendan said that but it was totally down to the players," he said ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League tie against Ludogorets in Bulgaria.
"They are desperate to get the game under way and try to rectify our performance at the weekend.
"First and foremost we are focusing on our performance. Win or lose we have to put in a performance of the standard of a Liverpool team."
In the wake of the loss at Selhurst Park former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher criticised the side for a lack of mental and physical toughness and Lambert found it difficult to argue with the Sky Sports pundit.
"We lost the individual battles and it wasn't good enough," said Lambert, who is likely to start in Sofia in the absence of the injured Mario Balotelli, having finally got off the mark for his new club against Palace.
"There wasn't anyone in a Liverpool shirt who was good enough and it was wholly down to the players on the pitch.
"I do believe it is a lack of confidence at the minute but that will come back.
"We will get back up the league and performing to the way we know.
"It is not going ideally but it is up to the players on the pitch to 'dog' the performances out.
"Whatever the result in any game, we have to perform better than we did at the weekend."
Watch Ludogorets v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 5 at 7.45pm on Wednesday.
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