New Liverpool signing Maxi Rodriguez insists the club's current crisis did not put him off joining from Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool are having their worst season for several years, with Wednesday's FA Cup exit to Reading following an early end to their Champions League campaign and a significant drop off the pace in the Barclays Premier League.

However, Rodriguez said he considered the long-term picture when he decided to leave Spain.

"If you decide to come to a club you don't look at recent form and whether results are going for or against you," said Rodriguez, who is in the squad for tomorrow's must-win match at Stoke.

"They are a great club with great tradition and you don't change your mind on something like that because of a short period of results.

"The important thing is to come here with that desire to win, work hard, make the team even more competitive and first of all try to win my place in the side.

"By hard work we will turn things around. I will be putting in lots of hard work, putting myself on the line for my team and team-mates because that is important."