LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL FANS

The manager of Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers, has made it clear that Daniel Sturridge was not included in the Reds’ starting line up for the game against Everton because he had not trained properly ahead of the game.

Despite the fact that he was suffering from a thigh problem, Sturridge went to represent the Three Lions in a friendly game against Germany the other day. According to Rodgers, that appearance there at Wembley worsened the injury of the 24 years old striker and in the training session ahead of the Merseyside derby, he was not looking 100%.

However, Sturridge did come to play as a substitute in the 79^th minute of that game against Everton and saved his team from a humiliating defeat by scoring a leveller just a couple of minutes before the end of the game.

Despite Sturridge’s brilliant work towards the end of the match, Rodgers didn’t look pleased at all. He expressed his unhappiness in the post match press conference.

The Liverpool boss said, “As a manager, you want your players to be 100% fit before each and every match. Daniel was not and so, he didn’t start. That was obviously gutting because you want to go into the derby firing on all cylinders.”

“The way he was training the other day, it was clear that he was not right up there in terms of fitness. I don’t know who is responsible for that, the guy himself or the FA.”

“No matter how good a player is, he has got to train properly. If he does that, he has every chance to be included in the starting line up.”

Sturridge has put up some top class performances for the Reds this season. He is currently at the second position in the list of leading goal scorers in the Barclays Premier League 2013-14.

According to a Liverpool fanzine, former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said that he is confident that the new manager after the helm Brendan Rodgers will be a major success. Liverpool recently secured the former Chelsea assistant manager from Swansea. He has immediately made a significant change to the Liverpool first-team by adopting a passing style of football. Rafael Benitez remains as one of the most successful Liverpool managers in recent years, as he has helped the club lift the Champions League title not so long ago in 2005. Benitez has said that he is a little surprised that he was not considered for the role as the Liverpool manager when Kenny Dalglish was sacked in the summer.

However, he has said that is more than confident that the replacement for Kenny Dalglish – Brendan Rodgers – will be able to do a good job at Liverpool. Benitez once again stressed the fact that his era with Liverpool was one of the most successful because they managed to lift the ultimate price for a club team in Europe – the Champions League. The club has not come close to playing in a Champions League final since then. He has also said that Liverpool have not even played in the Champions League for the last three seasons.

“I think they have enough quality to be in the top four — that’s my impression. Now because they are in a bad position people say ‘no chance’, but I think they have enough experience, quality, young players and the desire so I think they can compete. When a new manager goes in to a big club it is not easy especially when you have owners who need to understand more about this country, the club and football, but I have confidence they (the team) will do well,” said Rafa Benitez in a recent interview.

New Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that he will be giving every player at the club equal opportunity when it comes to staking a first-team place for next season. Liverpool recently appointed Brendan Rodgers from Swansea city after paying compensation of around £ 7 million for the former Chelsea assistant manager. He has been one of the best young managers in the country over the last couple of seasons. His attractive style of football has led him to be the number one favourite for the Liverpool job. A number of high-profile Liverpool players have been unable to get into the first-team after being overlooked by the former manager Kenny Dalglish.

Joe Cole and Albert Aquilani are the two major names who have been unable to get a chance at Liverpool under the previous regime. Brendan Rodgers, though, has admitted that he would like to provide every opportunity for the current players in order to prove themselves that they are worthy of first-team spot at Liverpool. Albert Aquilani, who only has two seasons left on his current contract, is being linked with a return to Anfield. It is the same situation with former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole as well.

“The cycle with Kenny was a terrific cycle, but I’m a different tactician and a different type of person and that will give all the players an opportunity to perform. I’ve got to assess all the players to see if they fit into the philosophy. I know what we’ve got, more or less, in the squad, but I also know there are a couple of signings that could really improve what we do. I think there are a few players who can come in and improve the group straight away. I know the types of player I need to bring here to make us function well,” said Brendan Rodgers.