Leicester boss Nigel Pearson says fans can 'stay at home'

Nigel Pearson said Leicester fans can "stay at home" if they cannot recognise the efforts of the team and admitted to an altercation with a supporter during the 3-1 loss at home to Liverpool.

The defeat left the Foxes at the bottom of the table, having now lost seven of their last nine league games.

"I had a spat with a fan towards the end," Pearson, 51, said.

"If they cannot see the players are having a proper go maybe they need to stay at home."

Pearson, who led Leicester to the Championship title last season, added his players were giving their all.

"I will always look for the positives," he said. "It is very easy for people to look at what we are not good at.

"I don't like the commitment of my players being questioned. If they honestly think they are not committed, they are very wrong. Maybe that is why I stay in the stand."

Leicester took the lead when Leonardo Ulloa's shot hit the woodwork then went in off the head of Reds keeper Simon Mignolet.

But Liverpool hit back through goals from Adam Lallana, Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson. The home side's cause was not helped when defender Wes Morgan was sent off with the score at 2-1.

"We can ill afford to play any game with anything less than 11 v 11. Their third goal knocked the stuffing out of us," Pearson added.

"We have quality and commitment. We can't get downbeaten by tonight's result. We have to break the cycle we are in at the moment."