Monthly Archives: September 2012

Gerrard: Winning title with Liverpool will be a miracle

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted he needs a “miracle” to lead his side to a Premier League title before the end of his career.

The Reds finished second in 2008-09 with a points total of 86 that would have won the league in several other seasons, but have never come as close in Gerrard’s tenure as skipper.

With the Manchester clubs and Chelsea all strengthening in the summer, the 32-year-old realises his hopes of bringing the title to Merseyside are unlikely to happen, especially with other up-and-coming rivals also hungry for success.

“It will be a miracle if I now realise my dream of winning the title with Liverpool,” he said in his recently published autobiography My Liverpool Story.

“I say that because of my age and where we have finished in the league the past couple of years. And also the situation we’re in with the rivalries.

“There’s not just United and Arsenal now but City, Chelsea and Tottenham. Newcastle coming as well. The Premier League has become a lot more difficult to win for everyone.”

Despite Liverpool’s fine 5-2 win at Norwich on Saturday, their poor early-season form has already led to an 11-point gap between themselves and league leaders Chelsea, which may prove to be too large a deficit for Brendan Rodgers’ side to claw back.

However, Gerrard claims that, with improvements, the club will be capable of challenging for a Champions League qualifying position by the end of the season.

He added: “We were eighth last year. If this season goes well, we get a bit of luck and improve, we have an outside, no, a 50-50 chance of being in the top four. That’s being realistic. It’s achievable.”

‘He doesn’t get anything in games’ – Rodgers sticks up for Suarez in penalty row

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez has earned an unfair reputation as a diver after the striker was denied another clear-cut penalty during Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Norwich.

Suarez followed up lasts season’s hat-trick at Carrow Road with another superb three-goal haul to hand Rodgers his first Premier League win in charge of the Merseyside club.

Despite the uplifting nature of Liverpool’s performance and the resultant three points, Rodgers was still upset at the treatment of his star striker, who has already been booked this season for simulation, when he failed to win a spot kick after he appeared to have been felled by Leon Barnett

Rodgers told Sky Sports: “He’s a wonderful talent and I’m fortunate today because he should’ve had a penalty but he doesn’t get anything in games. It’s unfortunate because he’s a real good guy. Overall the team was very good but I’m not surprised because they’ve been playing well just not getting the results.

“There’s no doubt he doesn’t get the verdicts in the games that he should get. If Valencia’s is a penalty last week with barely any contact then surely Luis Suarez’s is today.

“But we didn’t get it, I thought the referee had a good game but overall the performance and the goals were superb. And right to the very end I thought our work rate and intensity was very good. So a good day all round.”

Rodgers hails ‘wonderful talent’ Suarez after hat-trick at Norwich

Brendan Rodgers has hailed hat-trick hero Luis Suarez as a “wonderful talent” after Liverpool triumphed 5-2 over Norwich.

The 25-year-old became only the second player in Premier League history to net a treble in consecutive appearances at a ground, after Wayne Rooney grabbed hat-tricks against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

And Rodgers, after congratulating the rest of the squad, pointed out that Suarez could have further added to his tally.

Rodgers told Sky Sports: “The team, first and foremost, is the star. We were very good. Individually, of course, to score another hat-trick here, and wonderful goals as well.

“His first one was a terrific finish. His second pays a lot to him mentally because he’d missed probably his easiest chance 10 seconds earlier, but didn’t let it affect him.

“He got the ball back very quickly and produced a great piece of skill on the edge of the box to get his finish. And his third one, he’s chopped back inside and finished it into the corner.

“He’s a wonderful talent and I’m fortunate today because he should’ve had a penalty but he doesn’t get anything in games.

“It’s unfortunate because he’s a real good guy. Overall the team was very good but I’m not surprised because they’ve been playing well but just not getting the results.”

The Uruguay international was also denied a penalty when Leon Barnett nudged him in the back but referee Mike Jones waved play on.

And Rodgers believes the striker’s reputation goes before him in those instances.

He continued: “There’s no doubt he doesn’t get the verdicts in the games that he should get. If Valencia’s is a penalty last week with barely any contact then surely Luis Suarez’s is today.

“But we didn’t get it, I thought the referee had a good game but overall the performance and the goals were superb. And right to the very end I thought our work rate and intensity was very good. So a good day all round.”

As for the performance, Rodgers was delighted to earn his first Premier League win at the Reds helm, and was impressed by his side’s dominant display.

He added: “It was fantastic. Norwich have a real set of good lads here and have worked very hard to get where they are. I know how tough a game this was but the plaudits are obviously with the Liverpool players.

“I thought we were fantastic and scored five goals, maybe we could’ve had one or two more. Our control and domination of the game was very impressive, so I’m very pleased.”