Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool: Reds claim point to cap emotional week

"There's been a lot of emotion around the city in the build-up to the decision," the Northern Irishman said after seeing his side held to a draw by Sunderland.

"I don't think there was ever any doubt, but it was just waiting for the evidence to come out and there's been a lot of sadness but we used it as a platform.

"The families and the people of the city are an integral part of the club and the tragedy is a big part of the history of the club," said Rodgers.

"It's my job as the leader of the club to organise and help the families and the supports deal with it and the best way we can is by putting on performances like tonight."

Given the context, this draw was all but inconsequential but Rodgers was still disappointed to come away from the Stadium of Light with just a point given his side's second-half dominance.

It extends Liverpool's winless start, but they played well enough to suggest brighter things are around the corner.

Luis Suarez's goal, which came from great work by youngster Raheem Sterling on the right, was just reward.

Rodgers's opposite number, Martin O'Neill was also disappointed by the result but was gracious enough to admit a draw was probably fair given the chances the visitors had created after the break.

The Sunderland boss is also left looking to the future and hoping that his new £12 million man Steven Fletcher can continue the rich vein of form which saw him grab his third league goal in two games.

He was left ruing the loss of his other big-money signing Adam Johnson to injury in the build-up to the match.

O'Neill said: "At the moment we can do with that quality on field. We missed him."

The Black Cats are unbeaten this season but three draws leaves them without a win in their last 11 league games. Can they get better? "It's a long season," said O'Neill.

"We have our own set of problems, but it's up to us to resolve them and I'm sure we'll put some wins together soon."