Liverpool owners face a backlash from Brendan Rodgers later today over their failure to land new Tottenham signing Clint Dempsey. The Mail on Sunday says a frustrated Rodgers met managing director Ian Ayre at the club's Melwood training ground on Saturday to seek an explanation why he has been left chasing four trophies with a painfully thin squad that contains one senior striker in Luis Suarez.

Rodgers has been assured Friday's debacle will be taken into account if the club miss out on a top-four finish, and he has been promised he can bid for players in January, including Arsenal's Theo Walcott.

The 39-year-old successor to Kenny Dalglish has to decide whether to let his displeasure be known when he answers questions on TV before Sunday's game against Arsenal.