Brendan Rodgers has hit back at criticism of Mario Balotelli and said that the team are all responsible for Liverpool’s recent poor form.
Spanish striker Ayoze Perez scored in the second half at St James Park to ensure Liverpool suffered another defeat in what has been a drastic start to the Premier League season.
Much of their recent poor form has been directed towards new striker Mario Balotelli, who is yet to find his feet at Anfield, but boss Brendan Rodgers has taken those remarks away from the Italian and said that his entire team are to be held responsible for their run of results.
Rodgers told BT Sport: “We were punished for a mistake and that is what cost us the game. We passed the ball well.
“The options in front of the ball were good but we probably lacked that little bit in the final third of the field. We did not create as much as we would have liked.
“It is not about Mario Balotelli, it is about the team. We lost the game today. We collectively lost as a team and we are disappointed at that.”