Rodgers: No compromise of Liverpool style

Brendan Rodgers: Says he's sticking to his principles

Brendan Rodgers has denied the signing of Christian Benteke has compromised Liverpool's style of play and says the striker "gives us a better way to win".

Benteke arrived in the summer from Aston Villa for £32.5million and opened his goalscoring account in last week's 1-0 win over Bournemouth, which produced the club's second clean sheet in two games.

Benteke has been the focal point in Liverpool's opening two games with numerous crosses aimed at the Belgian international, but Rodgers has insisted his principles of "possession, but dangerous position" remain unchanged.

"I'm always clear and I don't change in relation to how we want to work and play. One of the key things in bringing Christian here is that first and foremost he can play football.

"His touch is good and his ability to bring players into the game is good - whether that's with his feet or a little cushioned header What he gives us is that threat in the box.

"When you have a 6ft 4in player like Christian he affects when the ball comes into the box because of his physicality and mobility. It keeps the game alive that bit longer.

"It's not like we were smashing it into the box and playing off the second ball. But we're not against that. That's not a compromise. Our notion in the game is always to dominate the ball. I've been in football a long time and my emphasis has always been possession, but dangerous position."

Rodgers has paid special attention to the team's defensive shape, but after successive 1-0 wins over Stoke and Bournemouth there have been suggestions that Liverpool's style of play has been sacrificed.

"I think the purist element comes from other people," said Rodgers ahead of Monday's clash with Arsenal. "Ultimately it's about results but, for me, it's also how we play. I worry that we play good football.

"I've always done that in my life working with young players, working at senior level as a manager in 300-odd games. I've always worried about the football. I'm not one that will go into every game and not worry about how we play and take a 1-0.

"Of course you can do that at times but the nature of how we work on a daily basis and as a coaching staff is based around a tactical idea on intelligent footballers, creative footballers with high energy and the ability to press the game and to make it really difficult for opponents with and without the ball. 

"That notion hasn't changed. Of course as you evolve as a manager and a coach you understand and recognise that at times there are different ways to win a game of football. That was the idea with bringing in different types of players. That hopefully gives us a better way to win."

 

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Arsene Wenger: No sympathy for Liverpool over Raheem Sterling

Arsene Wenger: 'No sympathy' for Reds

Arsene Wenger has said he has "no sympathy" for Liverpool over their sale of Raheem Sterling, who he believes will do well at Manchester City.

Sterling secured an initial £44million move to Manchester City in July after months of speculation in which the England international's conduct was called into question.

The winger refused to sign a new contract at Anfield, and held an interview with the BBC - not sanctioned by the club - where he insisted he was not a "money-grabbing teenager".

Liverpool suffered a similar fallout with Luis Suarez before his eventual move to Barcelona in 2014, with Arsenal famously submitting a £40,000,001 bid for the Uruguayan the summer before.

This was thought to be the fee to trigger a clause in Suarez's contract, but Liverpool refused to sell to their Premier League rivals regardless, a move which has left Wenger with "no sympathy" for the Reds over their sale of Sterling.

"Liverpool is in a position they can make their own decisions," he told reporters. "They refused to sell us Suarez, so I cannot feel too much sympathy for them."

Wenger also defended the actions of Sterling in securing his move, while stating his belief that the 20-year-old will perform well at Manchester City.

"I personally rate Raheem Sterling. We will see that in the longer term. I personally don't think that Sterling was making a lot of drama. It's just during the transfer window that that happened.

"During the season, the boy was quiet - never made any stupid statement. I don't think he made too much noise. He's a quality player. They bought Firmino. We will see what he will produce. He is a similar player.

"But let's remember, two years ago with Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling, they scored over a hundred goals. To score more than a hundred goals in the Premier League, you need special quality, and Sterling was part of that."

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Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho aim to emulate Ronaldo

Roberto Firmino says he and Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho are aiming to emulate the impact Ronaldo and Ronaldinho had on Brazil.

Firmino is a key component of a new-look national side revamped after the humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in last summer's World Cup semi-final.

With 10 international caps to his name, the former Hoffenheim man starred as the Selecao reached the Copa America quarter-finals this summer, with club team-mate Coutinho by his side.

Despite being snubbed in the latest squad by manager Dunga, Coutinho represents one of a number of bright young talents emerging from the South American country, and Firmino believes he and his new team-mate can replicate the effect two of the legends of the game - Ronaldo and Ronaldinho - had on the country.

"It would be hard for anyone to be as good as Ronaldinho or Ronaldo but me and Philippe are going to do our best to get close to them and be the best players we can be for Brazil," Firmino told reporters.

"It was ugly what happened in the World Cup semi-final against Germany but there are new players in Brazil to turn things around and who can show that Brazil still has lots of talent to be successful."

Liverpool completed the signing of Firmino straight after the Copa America, in which Firmino impressed for the national side.

He added: "I knew about Liverpool's interest before the tournament," Firmino says. "And I instantly thought it would be an interesting idea for me because I knew Lucas and Coutinho were playing here.

"I had the chance to play alongside Philippe for the national team so I spoke to him about Liverpool and I knew it would be a great opportunity. He said it's a great club with a great squad and a great team spirit."

Due to his summer exertions, Firmino has been eased into life in the Premier League following his move from the Bundesliga, appearing in both of Liverpool's games so far from the bench. Regardless, he believes he is capable of starting the clash against Arsenal on Monday.

"That is my aim but there's a healthy competition in the squad right now and the manager knows who should be starting games," he said.

"All I can do is keep on working so I will be ready when I am given the chance to start."

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Video: Daniel Sturridge posts another injury return update – “Home time soon”

Daniel Sturridge continues his return from injury and has posted another video update of him working on his fitness in America.

“Feeling good right now. Home time soon,” he captioned the video update, which shows him receiving, finishing and sprinting – using the new Premier League football for this season.

The 25-year-old forward is due to return to Merseyside later this month, having worked on his rehabilitation in the United States since undergoing surgery on his hip in New York in May.

It’s hope the England international will return in September, with the match at Old Trafford on September 12th a possible return date.

A more likely return though is likely to arrive the following week, in the Europa League.

Sturridge’s return to fitness will see an interesting dilemma for Brendan Rodgers, who must decide whether to change his side’s shape in order to pair him alongside Christian Benteke.

LIVERPOOL 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH:

PLAYER FOCUS: Christian Benteke vs. Bournemouth
FAN REACTION: “Performance unconvincing, result important”
TALKING POINTS: Clyne and Benteke impress, Lallana ineffective
PLAYER RATINGS
MANAGER REACTION: Howe unhappy with decisions

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Jordan Henderson injury update

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was substituted five minutes into the second half of Monday’s win over Bournemouth at Anfield, suffering from a foot injury.

Brendan Rodgers explained post-match that the 25-year-old had been struggling with the injury before the match and missed some training due to it.

“He had a problem with the bottom of his foot,” said Rodgers. “He hadn’t trained for part of the week.

“He was taking some painkillers with it, and did ever so well to even be out on the field.

“He wanted to give it a go, but you could see he was limited in his running.

“He did great for us when he was on the pitch, but it’s important we have fit players on the field, and unfortunately he was just in too much pain.”

The Guardian report that Henderson underwent a scan on Tuesday and will find out the results on Wednesday.

Henderson is therefore a doubt for next Monday’s game at Arsenal.

Should he be ruled out, Emre Can will almost certainly replace him in the side, but it could offer an opportunity for Lucas Leiva – who hasn’t been included in the squad for either of the opening games.

LIVERPOOL 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH:

PLAYER FOCUS: Christian Benteke vs. Bournemouth
FAN REACTION: “Performance unconvincing, result important”
TALKING POINTS: Clyne and Benteke impress, Lallana ineffective
PLAYER RATINGS
MANAGER REACTION: Howe unhappy with decisions

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Video: Carragher and Neville analyse Benteke’s offside goal vs. Bournemouth

Christian Benteke’s goal was the matchwinner for Liverpool against Bournemouth on Monday night, but it clearly shouldn’t have been allowed.

The goal should have been disallowed because Philippe Coutinho – who was clearly offside when Jordan Henderson‘s cross was played in – attempted to play the ball.

Of course, Coutinho didn’t connect, Benteke propped home from close range for his first goal for the club, and the linesman kept his flag down.

Monday Night Football on Sky Sports saw Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville analyse the goal, especially how Coutiho’s presence and attempt to play the ball distracted Bournemouth keeper Artur Boruc.

LIVERPOOL 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH:

PLAYER FOCUS: Christian Benteke vs. Bournemouth
FAN REACTION: “Performance unconvincing, result important”
TALKING POINTS: Clyne and Benteke impress, Lallana ineffective
PLAYER RATINGS
MANAGER REACTION: Howe unhappy with decisions

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