|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
"Mario Balotelli is poised to head back to Serie A and re-join AC Milan on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool, according to reports.
La Gazzetta dello Sport have stated that Milan boss Sinisa Mihajlovic has already met the out-of-favour Liverpool striker and he could be in the stands to watch his former side in action against Fiorentina in their season opener at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
When questioned about a potential deal, Milan's general manager Adriano Galliani refused to rule out a move for the forward who scored 30 goals in 54 games during a two-year spell with the Rossoneri.
"I'm not going to comment," he said. "But like [Italian singer] Antonello Venditti once said, there are certain loves which go such a long way and then they come back. I and the president are both romantic people."
The 25-year-old is way down the pecking order at Anfield after he found the net just once for the Reds last season, and the pressure is on Brendan Rodgers to sell the Italian who will receive a substantial loyalty bonus if he does remain a Liverpool player beyond the current transfer window."http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/996244...e-join-AC-Milan
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
Liverpool can land a psychological blow on Arsenal with victory at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night, according to Brendan Rodgers.
The Reds travel to the capital for an early meeting with another side who have top-four aspirations this season aiming to continue their bright start after back-to-back 1-0 victories over Stoke and Bournemouth.
Rodgers admits the result is unlikely to have too much impact on the final standings at this stage, yet appreciates an away win over Arsene Wenger's men can greatly enhance the confidence among his group.
"You're playing one of the rivals that you're hoping to be competing with at the top end of the table; these games are important," Rodgers acknowledged.
"They don't give the full picture in terms of how it will finish up - you can draw or lose these games and still go on and achieve what you want to achieve. Of course it's for the confidence and psychologically they are important.
"No matter when these games come in the season they are always good for the psychological effect.
"We've got a tough game away from home but we'll arrive into the game with confidence. We know they're an outstanding group of players and some quality individual players but there's a real focus in this group for this season, a real toughness, mentally.
"We know that we've got that ability to scrap and fight to get a result as well as play good football. If we can go there and perform like we think we can and keep to our game-plan we're confident we can get a result."
In studying Arsenal's recent home defeats, Rodgers has discovered his side may not necessarily need to match their opponents in the ball-retention stakes to prosper.
Both sides have earned plaudits for being aesthetically pleasing under their current managers but Rodgers will be happy to cede possession to the hosts if it means they follow West Ham in taking three points at Arsenal this month.
"If you assess Arsenal's last 10 games they've lost at home, the teams that have won, it's been about dangerous possession," Rodgers noted.
"The teams that have been there have only averaged about four shots on target, with 43% possession. It tells you that you can go there and you don't need to dominate the ball, but you can dominate the space and that's something that is important when you go away.
"For us, tactically, we'll arrive into the game in a good mind of how we can win it. Like Arsenal, we do like to dominate the ball, but there are certain games where tactically you look at the approach of what is going to get you the result. That's something we've done and been working on this week."http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/996253...senal-on-Monday
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 12,422
1st Team Regular
|
|
1st Team Regular
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 12,422 |
Jordon Ibe insists he needs to add more goals and assists to his game as he strives to cement a regular place in the first XI and repay the faith Brendan Rodgers has shown in him.
As the Reds prepare to head to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal in the Monday night clash, the winger is brutally honest to admit where he feels he can improve.
After starting in both of the opening victories over Stoke City and AFC Bournemouth, Liverpool’s No.33 claims there is more to come from him in a red shirt.
“I think I can play much better than I have done in the two games so far, especially with attacking the full-back,” Ibe told the Liverpool Echo.
“But with more games, hopefully I will get more confidence and be better in the coming games.
“There is a lot of stuff I need to work on. I need to be chipping in with goals and assists.
“There’s a lot of competition here and everyone wants to start. You can just see that eagerness in training.
“The gaffer gives a chance to everyone. If you prove yourself in training you will get a chance to play whether you are a senior player or an 18 or 19-year-old boy like myself and Joe Gomez.”
The former Wycombe Wanderers starlet also spoke about his excitement at playing alongside new No.9 Christian Benteke and believes the Belgium international will add an extra dimension to the Reds attack.
He added: “Benteke is definitely a great player and it was great for us to get him.
“For me it’s one aspect of the game I need to learn about - crossing the ball early enough. We’ve got someone in the box who can head it. He’s always going to win the header.
“If I get the ball in early enough I can add assists to my game as well as goals.
“We’ve got more options now with Benteke up there, instead of just maybe passing the ball around. The other team might be really defensive so we can get the ball out to the wings and get it in the box or go through the middle.”
Ibe also revealed why he returned early for training during the summer as he enjoyed some *sessions with club legend Kenny Dalglish.
He added: “I spoke to the gaffer and (Academy director) Alex Inglethorpe before last season finished about doing some sessions over the summer.
“I felt it would benefit me. The first day I came in, it was just me and Alex. Then the second day he brought in Kenny Dalglish. It was a surprise for me to be fair.
“I’d seen clips of Kenny on YouTube and when they show the legends on LFCTV. It was great to get advice from someone of his status because he scored all types of goals in his career.
“We worked on shooting and crossing and getting in the areas where the ball might be when the opposite winger is crossing it. I just need to continue doing it.
“Kenny told me to be always positive - taking shots from all around the box and making sure I always get into the box when I haven’t got the ball.
“The fact I haven’t scored my first goal for Liverpool definitely gets on my nerves at times. I might put too much pressure on myself but hopefully it will come in due time.”
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
Wenger still sour over not landing Suarez by the sounds of things....
"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."
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205
1st Team Squad
|
|
1st Team Squad
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,205 |
There are mixed messages coming from Brendan Rodgers at the moment but the Liverpool boss is trying to quietly change Liverpool's style of play, writes Matt Briggs.
"If Plan A doesn't work, Plan B is to make a change to make Plan A more effective," said Brendan Rodgers soon after he was appointed Liverpool boss in August 2012.
And with a short-passing game inspired by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona as a Plan A, it was what every Liverpool fan wanted to hear, but three years down the line and no silverware to his name it looks as though Rodgers has tinkered with his philosophy, but don't let him know you know.
Ahead of Monday's fascinating goalless draw with Arsenal, Rodgers insisted Liverpool's style, even with the addition of £32.5million frontman Christian Benteke, would not change.
"It's not like we were smashing it into the box and playing off the second ball. But we're not against that," said Rodgers, whose side almost opening the scoring through Philippe Coutinho in the third minute after winning a second ball.
"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," he added.
They certainly did not dominate possession at The Emirates and depending on which stat outlet you rely on they had only between 34% to 38% possession - the lowest under Rodgers in the Premier League. That in itself is no crime because they carved out numerous chances and should have been home and dry in a first-half which saw Philippe Coutinho rattle the woodwork twice.
But there was a noticeable change in their style of play on Monday and in Rodgers' ideology, which he convinced us three years ago he would never change. Liverpool were more direct and their aerial stats prove it.
Last season the Reds averaged just 15 aerial duels won per game and were 19th of the 20 top-flight clubs, however this term their average is 24.3 and sees them top of the pile.
Rodgers did in fact admit as much before Monday night in a quote which has mostly gone under the radar and the only admission yet from Rodgers that his early blinkered approach needed changing.
"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," Rodgers said.
There were only three minutes on the clock when Benteke had been slipped in down the side of Gabriel before pulling the ball back for Coutinho to fire against the underside of the bar. That chance originated from a long ball forward to Benteke with Liverpool pouncing on the second ball in Arsenal's final third.
It was an early example of Rodgers' idea of dominating dangerous space, rather than possession, and they maintained that approach for much of the first half before being pushed back in the second period after the Gunners' half-time rollicking.
"You don't need to dominate the ball but you can dominate the space. That is important in the away games," Rodgers said ahead of Monday's game.
Three years ago Rodgers would never have advocated "smashing it into the box and playing off the second ball", but that's what they did against Arsenal, not solely, and why not?
It is certainly not a negative attack on Rodgers, who has been bold enough to consider that plan A, regardless of the changes cannot work in every game.
The summer arrival of Benteke, who undoubtedly is more than just a target man, signalled Rodgers' intentions. It's just a shame the Liverpool boss has not been able to come totally clean and admit that his Plan A, Plan A, Plan A ideology was not the correct approach for every game.
"I think the purist element comes from other people," claimed Rodgers over the weekend. "Ultimately it's about results but, for me, it's also how we play. I worry that we play good football."
But "good football" can only last for so long without trophies and now the pressure on Rodgers is well and truly on because another trophyless season - with an evolved style of play - could see the manager with nowhere else to turn and heading for the scrapheap.http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/9965105/Rodgers-quietly-changing-Liverpool-s-style
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,229
Under 23 Player
|
|
Under 23 Player
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,229 |
|
|
|
|
|
