Brendan Rodgers admits Mario Balotelli is 'struggling'

Hull edged towards Premier League safety with the 1-0 win over Liverpool at the KC Stadium that moved them four points clear of the relegation zone and all-but ended the visitors' hopes of Champions League qualification.

Michael Dawson scored the only goal at the KC Stadium after 37 minutes, beating a hopeless Liverpool offside trap to head home, before the hosts comfortably held on to record their second straight victory.

It moved them up to 15th with four games remaining, while Liverpool stay fifth, seven points off fourth-placed Manchester United who occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot.

It was the second successive game in which Liverpool have failed to score and heaped pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers, whose side have taken four points from their last five games.

"I spoke to the players at the end and I told them that we have an obligation to fight right to the end of the season," Rodgers said.

"It's fair to say every single player here is playing for his future."

The Liverpool boss gave Mario Balotelli a rare start in the Premier League, though the Italian, who has notched just one goal in the top flight since his summer transfer from AC Milan, was largely ineffective and was substituted in the second half.

"I think it's clear over the course of the season, not just in this game, that he's struggling," added Rodgers.

Liverpool have failed to qualify for the Champions League every season after they have finished runners-up in the league, and with the Reds sitting seven points adrift of fourth place with four games left, it looks increasingly likely that they will miss out once again.

"We wanted to be in that top four but it was always going to be difficult for us with the way our season mapped itself out," said Rodgers. "But we are looking to get momentum to take us through to next season.

"The players put great energy into the game and they worked very hard but their struggles tonight were the same as they have been for a great part of the season in terms of creativity and scoring goals."