CODE RED! Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers warns City slip-up is a Liverpool reality check

BRENDAN RODGERS has urged Liverpool to disregard Manchester City's slip as being beneficial to their title hopes and instead view it as a stark "warning sign" that their own dreams can be still be shattered.

The Liverpool manager insisted no one had "their hands in the air" celebrating rock-bottom Sunderland's surprise 2-2 stalemate at The Etihad on Wednesday, which followed swiftly from Manuel Pellegrini's side's defeat at Anfield last weekend.

Rodgers said the result must serve to sharpen his players' focus against any complacency when he takes his side to relegation-haunted Norwich on Sunday.

Liverpool are two points clear of Chelsea at the Premier League summit, with City now six points in arrears, as they pursue a first championship success since 1990.

"When you're so close to the finish line you can maybe think that the job can be done and is done," said Rodgers.

"Teams can look that they are playing teams towards the bottom and that the games might be easy, but actually it's the contrast. They can be even more difficult.

"People are fighting for their livelihoods, fighting for their lives, fighting for their children, fighting for the supporters. And they're fighting to play in the best league in the world.

"I said to the players before we started training that if there anyone looking at a rival dropping points, then also take it as a warning sign. It is never easy at this stage.

"It was a warning sign for everyone that at this point of the season with four games to go there is nothing guaranteed and I have said that all the way along.

'' Crystal palace had an excellent result against Everton and Sunderland were within minutes of getting a great victory.

"That was the biggest message I got. Yes, one of the rivals might have dropped points but that is irrelevant. You have to do your own job. The warning signs are there."

Rodgers insists his players will resist the temptation to look ahead to the looming showdown with Chelsea at Anfield on April 27 and praised their tenacity in coming through last weekend's 3-2 win over City.