Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers not happy with criticism after Aston Villa win

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that there is a campaign against him by some people who want him overthrown from his position at Anfield. The Reds secured their first win in four games against Aston Villa with Daniel Sturridge scoring a brace after coming back from a long term injury.

James Milner opened the scoring for the Reds with the fastest goal in the Premier League this season while Sturridge doubled the lead in the second half. Villa showed much promise and desire to make a comeback and Rudy Gestede scored for Tim Sherwood's men.

However, some shoddy defending a few minutes later allowed Sturridge to score his second and put the game beyond Villa, who managed to get another one through Gestede around the 71-minute mark. This takes Liverpool's tally of points to 11, five behind leaders Manchester United.

Rodgers, who has been tipped to be sacked before the end of the season believes that his recent result in comparison to the other top clubs around him have not merited the criticism that has come his way.

"I am pretty confident that there is a group of people that don't want me to be here as manager. In all competitions this season we have lost less games than Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal," Rodgers said after the game, as quoted by the Guardian.

"The hysteria around ourselves is interesting to note. Myself and the players stay very calm and work very hard, and they got their rewards."

The manager has been heavily criticised by former players such as Jamie Carragher, Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard and there has been talk of Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp to take over at Anfield. Rodgers was not drawn into naming anyone whom he feels went out of the line to criticise him but insisted that his results were anything but deserving of a sack.

"I think it is pretty clear. Sometimes we haven't lost games and the hysteria around it is pretty clear. There is maybe something else going on from behind. I will continue working with the players – they have been absolutely first class – and we still have top class players to come back in," he continued.

"The players and the supporters were fantastic today, we gave them something to sing about. We are five points off the top with a lot of progress still to come."