Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has said that the pressure on Brendan Rodgers has increased after the penalty shootout win over League Two Carlisle United and that the next 10 days are "absolutely massive" for the Northern Irish boss.

The Reds scraped through to the League Cup fourth round against the lowest-ranked side in round three after the Cumbrians had hit back to earn a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Not counting the shootout, Liverpool have now failed to win in six consecutive matches, and Lawrenson says that Rodgers faces a make-or-break period over the next three games, when the club face Aston Villa, FC Sion in the Europa League, and Everton at Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby.

"I don't like managers getting the sack because I think it is a really difficult job but he's not won for six games - apart from on penalties against a League Two side," he told reporters.

"It's just not working at the moment but it is down to everybody. Players take a massive responsibility but at the moment Liverpool have gone back to being a bit rudderless, characterless and seem to have lost their way.

"He's under pressure for his job because he has not won for six games and spent many millions in the transfer market in the summer. I don't think Rodgers can afford to lose any of his next three games. Aston Villa is massive and then we have the derby. It is a massive 10 days for him absolutely massive."

Liverpool are 13th in the Premier League table with just two wins from six games ahead of the match against Villa on Saturday.