Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has admitted that "less tolerant" owners would have sacked Brendan Rodgers at the end of last season.
The Reds had an underwhelming campaign as they failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League and were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages, while they also failed to deliver a trophy in the FA Cup or League Cup.
Rodgers was spared the axe by the Fenway Sports Group, although his assistant Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike Marsh were sacked. However, Allen has insisted that the blame for the poor season lies on the shoulders of the players.
He is quoted as saying by The Mirror: "Yeah, of course, some owners may have been less tolerant after the way the season went. But the players we've got here are all honest players who take responsibility.
"At the end of the day, we were the ones who let the supporters, the manager and the staff down — and ourselves down as well.
"It's as simple as that. So it's up to us to get back out there and get back to the levels we know we can reach."
Liverpool recorded a 4-0 win over Thailand All-Stars in their opening pre-season game.
Simon Sinclair
