Liverpool Echo Sport
15/12/2014
Page 1.
FROM BASEL TO WORSE
Nightmare week for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. (Pictured above)
From bad to worse for Brendan Rodgers and the Reds reaction and much more inside from a dissapointing day at Old Trafford for the Reds against their arch enemies. Plus transfer talk and the fans views on a poor season so far.
Liverpool Echo sport
15/12/2014
The Fans Corner. I spoke to Liverpool season ticket holder Dale Omara to get his views on what has been a pretty difficult week for any Liverpool fan. First the reds crashed out of Europe after only mustering a point at home to Basel and then saw themselves comfortably beaten at the hands on their arch enemies. It’s hard to be optimistic at the moment admits Dale, who’d of thought after the highs of last season we’d be in this situation now, I don’t think anyone would of. It’s never nice to go out of the champions league he adds, especially with a performance like that it was all abit flat fromt the fans to the players it definitely wasn’t one of those special nights at Anfield that we’ve all seen before. The team selection left me scrathing my head if I’m honest surely you’ve got to have at least one striker on the bench just incase they do go a goal up which happened. Another
to a damaging 3-0 defeat. I thought the scoreline didn’t really reflect the performance actually, De Gea has had an unbelievable game and also Sterling and Balotelli should be doing better with the amont of chances they both had finishing was the difference in the game in my opinion without doubt. So after just three wins in the last thirteen games where does this leave Rodgers I ask ? I think most fans still back him Dale says but that could change very quickly another few defeats and I think people could turn and it hasn’t been good enough the last few months since Sturridge’s injury we have looked awful not many of his signings have worked and I think the players that are playing need to step up Lovren and Markovic haven’t showed what their capable off at all yet. Looking ahead now I think the Capital One
Above: Lovren celebrates his goal vs Swansea. moment of Gerrard cup becomes huge for magic gave us half a Rodgers because anchance didn’t it but to other season without be honest we wouldn’t a trophy and Champihave deserved it I ons league qualificadon’t think. tion is the end for him. And then it went It’s been two seasons from bad to worse this now and a third withfor Rodgers weekend out a trophy isn’t right didn’t it, a win against it’s who Liverpool FC Manchester United are at all. and people would But saying all that we have forgot all about are only seven points Tuesday it’s the way of 4th and in the football is, it’s still the quarter finals of the biggest game of the cup, so the situation of season for me and it’s the club and Rodgers always nice to beat could change quickly. them. The next few months It wasn’t to be howev- are huge for the club er as the Reds slipped and Brendan Rodgers.
Page 2.
REDS ROCKED
Wasteful Liverpool cap dreadful week with defeat at Action shots as Liverpool fall
Page 2 below : Gerrard looks on as Liverpool concede and Gerrard tackles United’s James Wilson.
Written By : Joseph Alley. Echo Sport and Liverpool FC correspondent. Liverpool travelled down the East Lancashire road under heavy pressure for possibly the first time under Brendan Rodgers tenure. After being knocked out of the champions league in midweek the Reds boss knew that a positive result against their bitter rivals would go a long way to helping secure his future. Before the game all the talk was about the Red’s team selection with out of form keeper Simon Mignolet being dropped in favour of Austrailian counterpart Brad Jones. The manager also opted to start with Raheem Sterling leading the line just as he did in the second half against Basel on Tuesday. Dejan Lovren was also given another chance with Kolo Toure being demoted to the bench. The reds went into the game with just three wins in the last twelve in all competions and already well of the pace in the league. However if any game could kick-start a stuttering teams season it was this one. United youngster James Wilson partenered Robin Van Persie in attack for the home side with Wayne Rooney being used in a much deeper midfield role Michael Carrick started at centre back due to United’s growing injury list.
Rodgers selection looked to have worked in the opening stages Liverpool starting the game well and dominating possession creating a few decent chances. Twelve minutes in however, they were behind a great David de Gea save from Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling set off a counter attack that saw Valencia beat Lovren far too easily and then cross for Wayne Rooney who swept home smartly past Brad Jones who maybe
shouldof done better. Glen Johnson limped off for the visitors with what looked like a thigh strain adding to Liverpool’s injury list. Kolo Toure recently named the clubs player of the month came on in his place. Liverpool unfazed by going behind continued to dominate keeping hold of the ball well looking threatening against Manchester United’s makeshift defence. Smart saves from De Gea kept the score 1-0
untill the 40th minute where an Ashley Young cross was flicked on by Robin Van Persie and then pounced on for a tap in by diminutive Spainard Juan Mata it was a cruel blow to Liverpool right before the half and in truth one that wasn’t deserved on the balance of play. Additionally Mata looked clearly offside and despite the protests of the Liverpool players the goal stood much to the dismay of under
Liverpool Echo Sport
15/12/2014
IN MANCHESTER.
Page 3. Echo Sport. The number one for Liverpool FC.
t Old Trafford and pile pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers. to 3-0 defeat at hands of bitter rivals.
Page 3 below : Sterling and De Gea go head to head De gea comes out on top.
Moment of the match : David de Gea saves brilliantly from Liverpool youngster Raheem Sterling. De Gea would continue this theme throughout the game and go on to win the man of the match, Liverpool and Raheem Sterling being made to rue missed clearcut oppurtunities along from the youngster and teamate Mario Balotelli. Team ratings : Manchester United. De Gea :9 Jones :7 Evans :7 Carrick :8 Mata :7 Rooney : 8 Young :7 Valencia :8 Fellaini :7 Van Persie :7 Wilson :6 Team ratings : Liverpool. Jones :5 Johnson :5 Lovren :4 Skrtel : 6 Gerrard :7 Henderson :6 Moeno :6 Allen:6 Coutinho :6 Lallana :7 Sterling :7. Have your say at www.Echosport.co.uk fire Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool went in at the half two down and looking to have no real way back into the game. Rodgers brought on Balotelli just after the interval and the Italian maverick had some effect as Liverpool continued to put the home team under pressure with De Gea saving from Balotelli three times in the half. Liverpool were handed a route straight back in to the game when Johnny Evans
played a poor back pass that was latched onto by Raheem Sterling who tried to take it around the keeper but spurned his oppurtunity badly, the man of the match De Gea saving brilliantly a continuing theme in the game. The miss seemed to affect the Liverpool team perhaps knowing they had blown their chance to get back into the match. And Manchester United began to dominate for the first time in the match
the attacking prowess of United clearly troubling the much maliagned Liverpool defence. Van Persie shot wide with a chance that would surely have put the game to bed as United began to assert themselves Wayne Rooney dominating the midfield after being started in a much deeper role than he’s used too. United however did manage to put the game away on the 71st minute a comical
attempt at a clearance by Dejan Lovren gave Van Perise the chance to seal the game after being played smartly in by Juan Mata, he did cooling slotting in to a wide open net Brad Jones not for the first time looking rather hapless in the Liverpool goal. The game was over and it was a question of whether the Mancunians could score again and make the scoreline even more humiliating for their bitter rivals. Brad
Jones made a good stop to prevent a 4th but Liverpool were beaten and and limped towards a 3-0 defeat much to the delght of the home crowd. After the game a defiant Rodgers was adamant that Liverpool deserved more from the game, arguing that it was a case of missed chance rather than a poor performance. He had praise for United keeper De Gea agreeing that the Spainard was man of the match. The Northern Irish-
man clearly enduring his worst spell as Liverpool manager. Van Gaal was pleased with his teams performance when he spoke to media after the game saying they deserved the victory over Liverpool and also defended his deployment of Wayne Rooney in his deeper lying midfield role. With the win United moved eight points off league leaders Chelsea with Liverpool languishing seven points off the champions league.
Liverpool Echo Sport
15/12/2014
Page 4.
R.
Pictured above : Swansea striker Bony who according to rumours is a target of the reds.
Rumour Mill :
Liverpool are rumoured to be after Swansea striker Wilifried Bony the Ivorian who has scored the most goals in the 2014 calendar year is rumoured to be a potential target for Brendan Rodgers side in a bid to solve their current goalscoring crisis. Tottenham are reportedly braced for transfer offers from Premier league rivals for Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen. Liverpool are one of the clubs that may be interested. The versatile defender is valued at ÂŁ17 million. Martin Montoya wants to leave Barcelona in January according to his agent with Liverpool one of his preferred destinations according to his agent.
Up Next :
Up Next :
Liverpool’s next game is a crucial Capital one cup tie against Championship high flyers Bournemouth who currently sit top of their respective league. Fans will expect nothing less than a win from Brendan Rodgers under pressure team. Liverpool fans will see this as a real oppurtunity for some silverware being just one game away from the semi-final with a chance to make another Wembley
Next up in the league for Liverpool is the visit of Arsenal to Anfield. The clash will feature two under pressure managers and two teams seperated by five points in the table both chasing the Champions league places in the table. Arsenal are coming off a convincing 4-1 defeat of Newcastle. The gunners also qualified for the knockout urt (pictured above). stages for the ChampiKick off is 19:45. A slip ons league in midweek up would be unthinkabut boss Arsene Wenble for the reds.
apperance. The Reds who are the record eight time winners of the trophy are expect
-ed to ring the changes after a gruelling last few weeks. The tie will be played at Dean Co-
ger still remains under pressure off some Arsenal fans after a percieved lack of progress in recent years. Liverpool who beat Arsenal in the same fixture last year 5-1 will be hoping for a repeat that would lift Rodgers side who are in cup action in the midweek. Two wins for Liverpool could finally kickstart their season. A defeat for either side would increase the already substantial pressure on either manager this game a crucial one for either side.