Brendan Rodgers sets out Liverpool demand as 'under pressure' former Celtic boss feels the heat at Leicester

Brendan Rodgers has issued a plea to his underperforming players to "fight" for their big money contracts.

The former Celtic manager has been heavily criticised after the FA Cup holders crashed out of the competition to Championship side Nottingham Forrest last weekend.

Rodgers said the 4-1 thrashing left him feeling "embarrassed" by the situation.

Leicester have just won three of their last 11 league games but have been struck by several key absentees to injury.

With his side also sitting in 12th place, 13 points off a European spot, he confessed the season could be dwindling away for the Foxes.

He said: "The responsibility is always the manager's, I pick the tactics and the team.

"When you lose it is my responsibility and you are always open to criticism.

"Results, especially the one at the weekend will put you under pressure.

"It's not something that I shy away from. We have now got to dig deep to show that hunger and fight."

Rodgers takes the Foxes to former club Liverpool who haven't lost a game at home this season and are still in the hunt for the Premier League title.

But Rodgers states there's no better time for the Foxes to bounce back.

"At a club like Leicester, you are just always trying to educate and teach players", he added.

"My experience of working with the very best is that you could have given them £1million per week and it wouldn't have changed their desire to keep climbing, improving and getting better.

"What that means is running even harder and pushing even harder on the field.

"The natural consequence of this group is what they have achieved. It has allowed them to renegotiate and improve their conditions in life, which is absolutely brilliant."

It’s been seven seasons since any side