Mamadou Sakho almost completed a week to forget for Liverpool by injuring Daniel Sturridge in training ahead of their Premier League game against Newcastle on Sunday. Sakho was part of the Liverpool defence which collapsed to concede three goals in the final 12 minutes against Crystal Palace on Monday after leading 3-0 after an hour. And he took his haphazard approach to defending to a new extreme at Liverpool's Melwood training complex when he clumsily floored Sturridge but luckily the England international was not hurt and recovered to see the funny side of the challenge. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Brendan Rodgers talk ahead of the Newcastle match . Tumbling: Mamadou Sakho sends Daniel Sturridge crashing to earth with a bang in Liverpool training . Moment of truth: The striker looked in some discomfort after the clumsy tackle by defender Sakho . Off the hook: Luckily for Liverpool and England, Sturridge emerged unscathed and laughed of the incident . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers . seemed in good spirits ahead of the final game of a season which has . seen him re-establish the Reds as a Champions League team and emerge as . unlikely challengers for the Premier League title. In . his pre-match press conference on Friday, Rodgers said it was important . not to dwell on the points Liverpool have dropped in their last two . games against Palace and Chelsea, but to look forward and aim to imporve . on mistakes. 'It has been excellent,' he said. 'You could see the emotion after the game and that was pretty much the same in the dressing room afterwards. 'But we know the areas we need to improve. 'We . won't dwell on it. You can't think about what might or could have . happened, you can only really focus on what has happened and look . forward to getting better and improving.' Happy days: Manager Brendan Rodgers and his players look in good spirits at the club's Melwood complex . Rodgers . also insisted that defensively his side have not been good enough this . season and highlighted that as a feature of their play he is keen to improve on in . time for next season. He said: 'I've watched it (the Palace match) three times since and I'm still in shock when I see us end up drawing the game 3-3. 'To . have that much control and good concentration and organisation in the . game, for it to slip with 12 minutes to go shouldn't happen. 'If . you can't keep your concentration long enough, you'll lose your place. It's as simple as that - you'll lose your place in the squad. 'We've . played in big games this season and showed real solidity defensively - . but we went away to Cardiff and yes, we scored six goals, but we . conceded three; went away to Stoke, scored five and conceded three; . Palace three; Hull three. 'Yes, . there's an element of quality from the opponent, but I look at and . analyse the games intensely and a big part of it is concentration - . organisation, concentrating on your job. 'But our work is continual. We will really focus on that part of our game over the course of pre-season. 'Like . I said when I came in, we had to improve our goals tally, so we went . from 47 scored in a season (2011-12) to now 99 and whatever it finishes . at this weekend - and we'll do the same with the defence.' Practice makes perfect: Steven Gerrard watches as Luis Suarez perfects his shooting technique . Put through their paces: Gerrard and Glen Johnson look focused on the task in hand .
Mamadou Sakho floors Daniel Sturridge with clumsy training ground tackle .
Brendan Rodgers in good spirits on final training session before Newcastle game .
Manchester City must lose to West Ham in order for Liverpool to win league .
Mamadou Sakho almost completed a week to forget for Liverpool by injuring Daniel Sturridge in training ahead of their Premier League game against Newcastle on Sunday. Sakho was part of the Liverpool defence which collapsed to concede three goals in the final 12 minutes against Crystal Palace on Monday after leading 3-0 after an hour. And he took his haphazard approach to defending to a new extreme at Liverpool's Melwood training complex when he clumsily floored Sturridge but luckily the England international was not hurt and recovered to see the funny side of the challenge. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Brendan Rodgers talk ahead of the Newcastle match . Tumbling: Mamadou Sakho sends Daniel Sturridge crashing to earth with a bang in Liverpool training . Moment of truth: The striker looked in some discomfort after the clumsy tackle by defender Sakho . Off the hook: Luckily for Liverpool and England, Sturridge emerged unscathed and laughed of the incident . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers . seemed in good spirits ahead of the final game of a season which has . seen him re-establish the Reds as a Champions League team and emerge as . unlikely challengers for the Premier League title. In . his pre-match press conference on Friday, Rodgers said it was important . not to dwell on the points Liverpool have dropped in their last two . games against Palace and Chelsea, but to look forward and aim to imporve . on mistakes. 'It has been excellent,' he said. 'You could see the emotion after the game and that was pretty much the same in the dressing room afterwards. 'But we know the areas we need to improve. 'We . won't dwell on it. You can't think about what might or could have . happened, you can only really focus on what has happened and look . forward to getting better and improving.' Happy days: Manager Brendan Rodgers and his players look in good spirits at the club's Melwood complex . Rodgers . also insisted that defensively his side have not been good enough this . season and highlighted that as a feature of their play he is keen to improve on in . time for next season. He said: 'I've watched it (the Palace match) three times since and I'm still in shock when I see us end up drawing the game 3-3. 'To . have that much control and good concentration and organisation in the . game, for it to slip with 12 minutes to go shouldn't happen. 'If . you can't keep your concentration long enough, you'll lose your place. It's as simple as that - you'll lose your place in the squad. 'We've . played in big games this season and showed real solidity defensively - . but we went away to Cardiff and yes, we scored six goals, but we . conceded three; went away to Stoke, scored five and conceded three; . Palace three; Hull three. 'Yes, . there's an element of quality from the opponent, but I look at and . analyse the games intensely and a big part of it is concentration - . organisation, concentrating on your job. 'But our work is continual. We will really focus on that part of our game over the course of pre-season. 'Like . I said when I came in, we had to improve our goals tally, so we went . from 47 scored in a season (2011-12) to now 99 and whatever it finishes . at this weekend - and we'll do the same with the defence.' Practice makes perfect: Steven Gerrard watches as Luis Suarez perfects his shooting technique . Put through their paces: Gerrard and Glen Johnson look focused on the task in hand .
for Liverpool by injuring Daniel Sturridge in . Tumbling: Mamadou Sakho sends Daniel Sturridge some discomfort after the clumsy tackle by manager Brendan Rodgers . seemed in good spirits in the . game, for it to slip with 12 minutes to