Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is considering taking one of the biggest decisions of his Anfield reign by resting Steven Gerrard for Tuesday night’s Champions League game against Real Madrid.
Rodgers says he needs to prioritise the Premier League following the club’s slow start to the season, which means Gerrard faces being kept on the bench ahead of this weekend’s visit of Premier League leaders Chelsea.
“It is something I need to look at,” Rodgers said. “He and I have spoken about that - three big games this week, Newcastle [last weekend], Real Madrid and then Chelsea. I need to look at a number of players to look at the games we want them to play in. We will see how that shapes up.
“In Steven’s case, if he is playing on Saturday I have to look at what is the priority for him and us. We brought in other players and there is responsibility there.
“I don’t see it as a gamble. This week and these games against the likes of Real Madrid I see as a great opportunity for the squad. You put them out there and you put your trust in them to perform. All I will do as the manager is give them that opportunity to perform. We have got three high-level games in a week and I have to think about that in preparation for the weekend. I also understand that we have to have a team that can come here and win and that is what we want to do.”
Rodgers said that while both the Premier League and Champions League are priorities this season, the domestic concerns must come first.
“Always. For me, at this moment, if we want to develop we need to ensure we are in the top four,” he said. “But we also want to qualify from this group and we will never know if these players can perform if we don’t put them in the team. We have spent an awful lot of money on players to come in and give them an opportunity to perform. If at the end of this cycle of games they haven’t performed, they can never say they haven’t been given a chance. Whether it is Real Madrid, Newcastle or Chelsea, I am putting my faith in these players. That is not being pragmatic. It is why you have a squad to come and get results. Whatever happens against Real Madrid, we will look to get a result on Saturday.”
Although there is logic to Rodgers’ determination to tailor Gerrard’s games - the captain is 34 - it is the timing and the venue that will surprise many.
Gerrard has missed only Capital One Cup games so far this season, and having agonised during Liverpool’s five-year absence from this competition - desperate to play again in a stadium such as the Bernabéu - it will be with a heavy heart he accepts being on the bench.
With Gerrard waiting for a contract offer from the club’s owners - and the club eager for their captain to understand he will start fewer games in the future - there would also be an element of symbolism should he be left out.
Speaking last week, Gerrard acknowledged Rodgers faced a dilemma as the last two group games against Ludogorets and Basle may be more decisive than this game.
“We’ll see what the manager decides to do,” Gerrard said a week ago. “We have two huge Premier League games either side of facing the best side in Europe. Do we go compact and play counter-attack? There is a lot for the manager to decide.”
Should Gerrard miss out, Jordan Henderson would captain the side. He accepts he must start taking more responsibility.
“We need to have even higher expectation levels on ourselves as individuals, and not look to any other players,” Henderson said. “We have to look around us at how good a team we are, and make sure every player lives up to those expectations now. We have to show we can put in the performances at the level the club demands.”
Liverpool are ranked 12-1 outsiders to win in Madrid. Never have the club’s chances of winning been considered so slim by bookmakers.
“We do sense that people have already written us off in this game - I think that’s obvious,” Henderson said. “Real Madrid are a top side with quality players and people think we’re going to come here and they’ll win the game easily.
“In a sense, the pressure is off us in a way. We do feel as though we can use this as an inspiration to go out and prove people wrong. That is what we have come here to do - to show we deserve to be in the Champions’ League against the best teams in the world.
“We’re Liverpool - we come here with high expectations, no matter what people think of our chances.”
Daniel Sturridge was part of Liverpool’s travelling party, but is not yet fit to play.
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét