Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers bemoans short memories after banner calls for his dismissal

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has bemoaned the short memories of some involved in football after a banner was flown over Anfield calling for his removal and the reinstatement of Rafael Benitez before the Premier League clash against Queens Park Rangers on 2 May.

The Reds recorded a narrow 2-1 victory over struggling QPR after Steven Gerrard recovered from a disappointing penalty miss to notch an 87th-minute winner, yet arguably the biggest talking point of the afternoon came when a sign dubbed with the phrase "Rodgers out Rafa in" became visible in the sky before kick-off.

"I thought it was Rafa's agent in [the plane]," Rodgers quipped in quotes featured by the Liverpool Echo. "Football has a short memory, we sat here last year having nearly won the league and now we have planes flying over so you can do nothing about it.

"I'm very fortunate and privileged to work here at Liverpool and as I said before there will be many names linked with the job because of the size and scale of the job to be undertaken here. I'm hugely honoured every single day of my life, and I will continue to be, however long it lasts."

Led by the sheer brilliance of Luis Suarez, Liverpool came within three points of winning their first top-flight title since 1990 last season but for a late collapse that saw them lose at home to Chelsea before inexplicably blowing a 3-0 lead over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Although the Uruguayan was then sold to Barcelona in July 2014, hopes remained high that the club would at least consolidate their place in the top four this time around, with Rodgers having invested handsomely in a range of signings that included the likes of Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno and Mario Balotelli.

While Champions League qualification for the second consecutive year was previously considered a realistic aim, Liverpool have largely failed to keep pace with their rivals over recent weeks and trail Manchester United by four points with three games left to play.

Rodgers's side were also beaten in the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions this season, leading to concerns over the former Watford, Reading and Swansea boss' ability to bring silverware back to Merseyside.

Benitez, meanwhile, is out of contract Napoli in June and remains a popular figure among supporters owing to his six-year stint in charge at Liverpool between 2004-10.

The Spaniard, who also served as interim manager at Chelsea two years ago after the sacking of Roberto di Matteo, has not always been well-regarded in Serie A but Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis spoke in April of his desire to retain Benitez beyond the summer following a strong run of form.