Mark Lawrenson: Adding silverware to trophy cabinet will help Brendan Rodgers avoid sack

Mark Lawrenson believes adding silverware to Liverpool's trophy cabinet will help Brendan Rodgers avoid being sacked even if the Reds fail to finish in the top four.

The Merseyside club are struggling in the league as they sit in the second half of the table. They were knocked out of the Champions League group stages following their 1-1 draw against FC Basel.

Meanwhile, the Anfield club made it to the last four of the Capital One Cup after their victory over Bournemouth earlier this month. The former Liverpool defender claims Rodgers will not face the same fate as his predecessor Kenny Dalglish as the decision to sack the Scot was already taken before the end of the 2011/12 campaign.

"I think adding silverware to the Liverpool trophy cabinet this season would see him remain in charge even if Liverpool finish out of the top four," Lawrenson told the Liverpool Echo.

"I think what goes in Brendan's favour here is that the club's American owners understand sport franchises."

"Look, everyone wants to be in the Champions League because of the revenue streams that brings and how it makes it easier to attract the better players, but there is a wider picture to this."

"It seems the decision to sack Dalglish was made in March with Fenway Sports Group deciding that they wanted a young manager to take the reins."

"And I think that FSG understand that if they were to sack Rodgers at the end of this season then it would lead to a lot of upheaval. The manager would leave and so would his coaching staff."

"A new manager would come in, appoint new coaching staff and want to buy his own players. Unless Liverpool seriously bomb then I can't see any decision being made on the manager," he added.

The Reds' summer signings have failed to deliver and their poor form has seen Rodgers and Liverpool's transfer committee receive a lot of criticism off late. However, Lawrenson has backed the new additions to shine for his former club.

"A lot has been written about Liverpool recently and the players Rodgers has bought and the role of the club's transfer committee. But I get the feeling that a lot of the players that have been brought to the club will be slow burners," the Anfield favourite explained.