Monthly Archives: October 2012

Liverpool manager Rodgers can emulate Dortmund boss Klopp, claims Sahin

Liverpool midfielder Nuri Sahin belives Brendan Rodgers can emulate Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp and bring silverware back to Anfield, as long as he is given the time.

The on-loan Real Madrid midfielder witnessed the transformation Klopp masterminded at the Westfalenstadion following his arrival in 2008, and has drawn parallels with his new boss on Merseyside.

The 45-year-old Klopp arrived at Dortmund following a seven-year stint with Mainz 05, replacing Thomas Doll after BVB finished 13th in Bundesliga. Klopp clinched the DFB Super Cup and guided Dortmund to a sixth place finish in his first season, before winning successive titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Dortmund also notched a record-breaking 81 points in the league last year, before beating Bayern Munich 5-2 in the DFB Pokal as the club won their first ever domestic double.

The ?Ludenscheid?-born Turkish midfielder belives Klopp was allowed enough time to stamp his authority on the Dortmund squad, and is hopeful Rodgers is given a similar opportunity.

“It will take time to take Liverpool back to where it wants to be,” Sahin told the Daily Mirror. “When Klopp came, we did not have a squad to be champions. He changed a lot, bringing his own philosophy in. It took a while for everybody to follow it.

“He had to be calm and consistent. If you go on this way, in the first two or three weeks, OK, you might not get the results, but in the long term it will go your way if you don’t change it.

“The club gave Klopp the time to do this and it worked out very well. As a character, he is a person who relates to the player. I can see Brendan doing the same.

“Brendan’s character was very influential in me coming here.”

Liverpool currently sit 14th in the Premier League, with just one win from their seven games.

Liverpool striker Borini facing three months out after foot surgery

Liverpool striker Fabio Borini is facing three months out of action following upcoming surgery on a fractured foot, the club have confirmed.

The former Roma striker had to be substituted at half-time after sustaining the injury during the Reds’ recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United and further aggravated the blow whilst on international duty with Italy.

And the club have now confirmed that the 21-year-old will go under the knife after being assessed at Melwood and is set to be absent for some time.

The blow leaves Liverpool with just one senior striker, Luis Suarez, available following their failure to capture Clint Dempsey from Fulham during the summer transfer window.

Youngsters Samed Yesil and Jerome Sinclair have both recently featured in the League Cup and could now be handed further opportunities.

Henderson eyeing top-four finish for youthful Liverpool

Jordan Henderson says Liverpool’s latest wave of youngsters are ready to fire the Merseyside club into the top four of the Premier League and to further glory in future years.

The former Sunderland midfielder made a big-money move to Anfield in 2011, with his first year at the club ending in disappointment with an eighth-placed finish in the league.

However, with manager Kenny Dalglish replaced by Brendan Rodgers, and youngsters such as Raheem Sterling, Suso and Jonjo Shelvey impressing so far, the England Under-21 captain believes better times are ahead.

“It is a very young team, but that is a good thing for us, and for the future,” he told the club’s official website.

“But we aren’t just looking at the future, this team and these players are ready now, and I think they have shown that over the last few weeks.”

Liverpool have struggled for form this season and occupy 14th place after seven games, picking up just six points along the way.

The team are currently eight points off a Champions League place that the American owners desperately crave for the long-term stability of the club, especially with new plans to renovate Anfield being discussed.

A silver lining for Rodgers and Liverpool has been the form of younger squad members, with Sterling catching the eye on the wing, and both Suso and Shelvey making a case for being included in Rodgers’ first XI in future games.

Henderson captained England’s U-21 side to victory in the controversial clash with Serbia on Tuesday night, while Shelvey made his senior Three Lions debut against San Marino on Friday.