Brendan Rodgers says Cesc Fabregas should have been sent off

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers felt Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas should have been sent off in the opening minute of Sunday's 1-1 draw.

Steven Gerrard was given a rousing ovation after withdrawing from his final bout with Jose Mourinho, having cancelled out John Terry's header in a 1-1 draw.

The Reds needed to inflict Chelsea's first home loss in the league this season to keep their slim chances of qualifying for the Champions League alive, but they are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with two games to play and a goal difference of 14 to overcome.

Europa League football is likely at Anfield next term, but Rodgers praised his players for their response to going behind, reserving his frustration for referee Andre Marriner's decision to only book Fabregas for a reckless centre-circle lunge on Raheem Sterling.

"It was a poor challenge. Fabregas should've been sent off - out of control, diving, stretching," Rodgers said.

"It was early in the game (but) it doesn't matter if it's early, beginning of the second half, end of the game. It was a bad challenge and he deserved a red card for it."

Fabregas' tackle came after Liverpool gave Chelsea a guard of honour on to the field in recognition of their title success.

Chelsea boss Mourinho said he did not see the challenge and thought it had been John Obi Mikel who committed the foul. In fact, Mikel was booked by Marriner before Fabregas, with the Nigeria midfielder's card immediately rescinded.

The Chelsea boss declined to comment further, citing the furore which followed Diego Costa's apparent stamp and subsequent suspension following the Blues' Capital One Cup semi-final win over the same opposition in January.

Mourinho said: "I don't think we need now another week of theatre like we had after the Capital Cup game."

Last season the Blues ended Liverpool's hopes of a first championship in 24 years and Gerrard has not been allowed to forget it after his slip let Demba Ba in to score a crucial goal at Anfield.

The former England captain was the subject of plenty of songs on Sunday, with his goal a riposte before he was replaced 11 minutes from time.

Mourinho, who three times tried to sign Gerrard, led the applause, which swiftly drowned out the boos from the home faithful, who were louder than during last week's title-clinching defeat of Crystal Palace.

Rodgers said: "He's taken a lot of stick here, but I think the Chelsea supporters knew deep down it's only because he's a superstar player. They showed great appreciation for him.

"I thought he was excellent. The last couple of games he's got the winner and he's got the equaliser.

"He's a player that makes the big contributions when needed. I've said before he's irreplaceable but we need to find the solutions, one way or the other."

Gerrard will not be Liverpool's saviour on this occasion, with the Reds all but mathematically out of the Premier League top four ahead of his final game at Anfield next Saturday against Crystal Palace.

Rodgers, who bemoaned a slow start, said: "We sit in fifth place and that's probably where we're at. If we want to make the next steps, we need to find some acquisitions in the summer to help us do that.

"The players that I've worked with have been brilliant, given everything. Like today, we've been very unfortunate."

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1: Reaction from Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers felt Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas should have been sent off in the opening minute of Sunday's 1-1 draw.

Steven Gerrard was given a rousing ovation after withdrawing from his final bout with Jose Mourinho, having cancelled out John Terry's header in a 1-1 draw.

The Reds needed to inflict Chelsea's first home loss in the league this season to keep their slim chances of qualifying for the Champions League alive, but they are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with two games to play and a goal difference of 14 to overcome.

Europa League football is likely at Anfield next term, but Rodgers praised his players for their response to going behind, reserving his frustration for referee Andre Marriner's decision to only book Fabregas for a reckless centre-circle lunge on Raheem Sterling.

"It was a poor challenge. Fabregas should've been sent off - out of control, diving, stretching," Rodgers said.

"It was early in the game (but) it doesn't matter if it's early, beginning of the second half, end of the game. It was a bad challenge and he deserved a red card for it."

Fabregas' tackle came after Liverpool gave Chelsea a guard of honour on to the field in recognition of their title success.

Chelsea boss Mourinho said he did not see the challenge and thought it had been John Obi Mikel who committed the foul. In fact, Mikel was booked by Marriner before Fabregas, with the Nigeria midfielder's card immediately rescinded.

The Chelsea boss declined to comment further, citing the furore which followed Diego Costa's apparent stamp and subsequent suspension following the Blues' Capital One Cup semi-final win over the same opposition in January.

Mourinho said: "I don't think we need now another week of theatre like we had after the Capital Cup game."

Last season the Blues ended Liverpool's hopes of a first championship in 24 years and Gerrard has not been allowed to forget it after his slip let Demba Ba in to score a crucial goal at Anfield.

The former England captain was the subject of plenty of songs on Sunday, with his goal a riposte before he was replaced 11 minutes from time.

Mourinho, who three times tried to sign Gerrard, led the applause, which swiftly drowned out the boos from the home faithful, who were louder than during last week's title-clinching defeat of Crystal Palace.

Rodgers said: "He's taken a lot of stick here, but I think the Chelsea supporters knew deep down it's only because he's a superstar player. They showed great appreciation for him.

"I thought he was excellent. The last couple of games he's got the winner and he's got the equaliser.

"He's a player that makes the big contributions when needed. I've said before he's irreplaceable but we need to find the solutions, one way or the other."

Gerrard will not be Liverpool's saviour on this occasion, with the Reds all but mathematically out of the Premier League top four ahead of his final game at Anfield next Saturday against Crystal Palace.

Rodgers, who bemoaned a slow start, said: "We sit in fifth place and that's probably where we're at. If we want to make the next steps, we need to find some acquisitions in the summer to help us do that.

"The players that I've worked with have been brilliant, given everything. Like today, we've been very unfortunate."

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho disappointed to see Steven Gerrard leave

We are sorry the page you requested cannot be found at the moment.

If you use a bookmark to enter this site, please go to our home page, find the appropriate page and update your bookmark accordingly.

This may only be a temporary problem, so you can try hitting your browser's refresh button, however if the problem persists please get in touch by emailing us.

Thank you for using TEAMtalk!

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Steven Gerrard makes dig at Chelsea fans after Liverpool draw

Steven Gerrard said it was "nice of Chelsea fans to turn up for once" after the Stamford Bridge crowd goaded the Liverpool captain during Sunday's 1-1 draw.

Gerrard, playing what was his last game at Stamford Bridge before leaving Liverpool for the LA Galaxy in the summer, was given a standing ovation by the majority of the home support when substituted in the 79th minute.

But some fans also held up "caution, slip hazard" posters during the game, referencing Gerrard's slip in the vital 2-0 defeat against Chelsea at Anfield last year as Liverpool chased the Premier League title.

"I'm not going to get drawn into wishing the Chelsea fans well, it was nice of them to turn up for once today," Gerrard told.

"I was more happy with the ovation from the Liverpool fans. I think the Chelsea fans have shown respect for a couple of seconds, but they've slaughtered me all game.

"If you get a standing ovation at a stadium it is always nice, but what is always important is the support from the Liverpool fans, and they've been with me since day one."

Gerrard, who will play his last competitive game at Anfield for Liverpool against Crystal Palace next Saturday, insists the club need investment in the summer to improve.

Having finished second last season, the club are now all-but out of the race for the top four.

"I think now this team has got to build for next year. We didn't win the game, but we've certainly showed with additions and a bit of improvement that we can compete next year," Gerrard added.

"I think it's important the lads get some rest after the last couple games, and that the owners dig deep and try to help Brendan and the lads out, try and make some additions and try to improve.

"There's a great core of players here, they have terrific potential and the future looks alright, but it is important we try to compete with the giants in the league, they're all going to spend big and this league is getting more and more difficult every year."

Chelsea came onto the pitch to a traditional guard of honour from Liverpool, something Gerrard admitted "was not nice".

"It's not nice when you're doing it for other people," Gerrard added. "But this football club has always shown respect and the guard of honour comes with tradition. 

"Chelsea have won the league, they are champions, have a terrific manager, and deserve the guard of honour today, but it certainly wasn't nice doing it."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admitted in the week that Gerrard was his "best enemy" and that he had attempted to sign the midfielder during his first spell at Chelsea, as well as his time at Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

Gerrard, who insists Mourinho is the best manager in the world, admitted his head was turned purely because of the Portuguese boss.

"I've got huge respect for him, he's the best manager in the world for me. I'd have signed for him three times if I wasn't a Liverpool fan. 

"He's the reason why my head was turned on a couple of occasions, but he understood why I couldn’t do it, and that's because I love Liverpool football club.

"I did [wonder] at the time, but for me I always said to myself if I win a couple of trophies at Liverpool it would an awful lot mean more to me than to win 10 at Chelsea, Real Madrid or Inter Milan. 

"It always means more to win it for your people."

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Steven Gerrard in dig at Chelsea fans after Liverpool draw

We are sorry the page you requested cannot be found at the moment.

If you use a bookmark to enter this site, please go to our home page, find the appropriate page and update your bookmark accordingly.

This may only be a temporary problem, so you can try hitting your browser's refresh button, however if the problem persists please get in touch by emailing us.

Thank you for using TEAMtalk!

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool: John Terry and Steven Gerrard on target as Reds hold champions

A 1-1 draw for Liverpool at Chelsea all-but ended their hopes of finishing in the top four this season.

John Terry headed the hosts in front early on, before Steven Gerrard equalised shortly before half time.

The visitors enjoyed more of the possession in the second half and Philippe Coutinho went close as he fired wide, but Liverpool couldn't find the winner they needed to close the gap on Manchester United in fourth.

The result means Jose Mourinho continues his unbeaten record against Liverpool, and leaves Brendan Rodgers’ men six points off fourth place with two games left, effectively ending their Champions League hopes owing to their inferior goal difference compared to Manchester United.

Liverpool afforded the newly-crowned champions a guard of honour as they came on to the pitch, but Chelsea were in no mood to relax and Cesc Fabregas came out firing, catching Raheem Sterling with a late challenge to earn a booking inside the first minute.

The visitors then allowed Blues skipper Terry too much space in the box from Cesc Fabregas’ corner, with the defender rising above Rickie Lambert to power a header into the corner as Simon Mignolet and Gerrard failed to keep it out, and Chelsea were ahead inside five minutes.

The party spirit was in full swing as Chelsea looked more expansive than in their recent matches, with the pressure of securing the title lifted from their shoulders.

But Liverpool had something to play for and enjoyed some spells of possession, with Philippe Coutinho going close with a couple of efforts, his first deflecting wide off Filipe Luis from 20 yards before he cut inside Kurt Zouma and saw a low shot saved by Thibaut Courtois.

For most of the half Chelsea looked comfortable and the visitors were struggling with the threat of Mourinho’s men down the left flank, but they drew level after Branislav Ivanovic was booked for hauling down Adam Lallana near the corner flag in the 44th minute.

Jordan Henderson whipped in the resulting free kick and Gerrard popped up unmarked at the far post, nodding it down into the net to level things right before the break.

The visitors started the second half the brighter of the two sides, and Coutinho had a glorious opportunity to put his side in front, but he could only fire his first-time shot wide of the post after good work by Raheem Sterling down the left.

Willian had a couple of chances in quick succession for the hosts, drilling one shot just wide of the far post from a tight angle before seeing a second effort diverted behind by Martin Skrtel from the same position.

The hosts introduced Nemanja Matic on the hour mark, and Chelsea almost immediately looked more solid in the middle of the park, but Liverpool were still seeing plenty more of the ball.

Chelsea were creating some good openings, though, and Cesc Fabregas bundled his way through the Liverpool defence before firing a low left-footed effort, only to see Skrtel make another excellent last-ditch block.

Coutinho’s deflected effort was saved by Courtois late on, while Jordan Henderson fired an 18-yard volley wide of the target, with neither side able to find the winner, leaving Liverpool six points adrift of Manchester United with an inferior goal difference with two games remaining, meaning their Champions League aspirations are pretty much over.

Rodgers men next face Crystal Palace as Gerrard prepares for the emotional occasion of his last match for Liverpool at Anfield.

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool: Terry and Gerrard on target as Reds hold champions

Steven Gerrard equalised for Liverpool shortly before the break

Steven Gerrard scored for Liverpool as they held newly crowned Premier League champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

John Terry headed the hosts in front early on, before Gerrard equalised shortly before half time.

The visitors enjoyed more of the possession in the second half and Philippe Coutinho went closest as he fired wide, but neither side could find a winner.

The result means Jose Mourinho continues his unbeaten record against Liverpool, and leaves Brendan Rodgers’ men six points off fourth place with two games left, effectively ending their Champions League hopes.

More to follow…

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→

We are sorry the page you requested cannot be found at the moment.

If you use a bookmark to enter this site, please go to our home page, find the appropriate page and update your bookmark accordingly.

This may only be a temporary problem, so you can try hitting your browser's refresh button, however if the problem persists please get in touch by emailing us.

Thank you for using TEAMtalk!

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk

Continue Reading→