text: Liverpool must stick with manager Brendan Rodgers as he is the right man to take the club forward, believes former Reds' striker Stan Collymore. Rodgers has come under-fire following a disappointing third season with the Anfield outfit - which has led to some unhappy fans calling for his dismissal. Not since the 1950 has a previous Liverpool manager  gone three campaigns without a trophy, but that is the unwanted fate that will meet the 42-year-old at the end of this term. Liverpool must keep faith with under-fire manager Brendan Rodgers, believes ex-Kop striker Stan Collymore . The Reds' FA Cup semi-final exit against Aston Villa on Sunday followed defeat at the same stage of the Capital One Cup by Chelsea. A season of false hope was compounded further as the club failed to progress past the Champions League group stages and were then dumped out of the Europa League on penalties. To make for a gloomier outlook, the Merseysiders' hopes of a top four spot seem remote - as they trail fourth-placed Manchester City by seven points with six games remaining. Liverpool's fortunes are in stark contrast to last season when they came agonisingly close to being crowned champions of England for the first time since 1990. And speaking on TalkSPORT, Collymore is adamant that Rodgers is still the correct figure to make the Reds a force to be reckoned with once more. 'I believe Liverpool should have patience with Brendan Rodgers,'  the Kick Off host said. Rodgers (right) saw his team dumped out of the FA Cup semi-finals by Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday . 'The reasons are quite simple: He is a very good coach, he has a proven track record - going back to Chelsea under Jose Mourinho - of promoting youth, developing youth and giving them an opportunity. 'What he didn't have, having been at two smaller clubs in Swansea City and Reading, is a track record of spending big money, which he needs to do to take Liverpool onto the next level. 'But, he took Liverpool to two semi-finals this season and they were within a whisker of winning the Premier League title for the first time ever last season. 'So, for me, Brendan Rodgers is the right man.' Fabian Delph (centre) scored the matchwinning goal  as  Villa condemned Liverpool to a 2-1 defeat on Sunday .
target: Liverpool lost 2-1 against Aston Villa in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday .
  Reds are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Man City in the league table .
  No Liverpool boss since 1950s has gone three seasons without a trophy .
  READ: Liverpool set for summer overhaul with TEN Kop stars on way out .
  READ: Rodgers has conviction quashed after rental property fine .