Brendan Rodgers has agreed with Steven Gerrard and Luis Suárez that Liverpool need greater experience in their squad, but denied that there is conflict between the dressing room and boardroom over transfer policy.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the Liverpool owner, has imposed a strategy that prioritises the signing of players aged 23 and under, an approach that Gerrard has disagreed with publicly. Suárez also went off-message this week, saying that while “young players win games, experienced players win championships”.
The sympathies of Rodgers lie with his players owing to his belief that Liverpool would benefit from adding more experience to the squad. But having taken the manager’s job last summer aware of the transfer policy being implemented, he remains willing to work within those constraints even though he disagrees with them.
“I was given a job at one of the biggest clubs in the world when I came here,” he said. “That is never always going to be easy but the owners have been brilliant for me. They have given me some money to spend and we have brought in young players with that. There is no doubt that they want to look at young players, those who can develop over the next seven to ten years.
“But I think it is healthy not to agree. I have got to where I have at such a young age by not saying yes all the time. I know how I have wanted to help the club improve. I don’t expect anything at this stage. I have got to earn my right. Sir Alex [Ferguson] has taken all that time to earn the rights he has now. It is going to take time.
“We will disagree and we have disagreed before. The most important bit is the owners have been brilliant. Tom Werner, John Henry, Mike Gordon, the people who I deal with most, have been supportive and they understand the things when I say we need to improve.”
Ian Ayre, the managing director, claimed this week that in terms of age, Liverpool’s squad is the most balanced in the Premier League, an opinion that appears not to be shared in the dressing room. Rodgers finds himself in the diplomatically precarious position of trying not to exacerbate any existing divisions while making his own feelings known.
“Ian’s comments have come from looking at the squad,” he said. “We have got some experienced players in there — Agger, Skrtel, Johnson — and we have younger players to develop. He is looking over the longer term. But Steven and Luis are right. It’s what I said all the way along — you need to have balance in your group. That experience is important.
“I will always do in my role what I think is best for the team and the club. That is all I can do. It’s not my money and not my club. I’m her to manage the group and hopefully we will get the players in to take us forward.
“I have got no complaints with the owners. They allow me to work and work well. If you ask any manager, they will always look for a young player that they can develop. But there are certain times when you need that experience.
“Look at Robin van Persie as the example. If you bring him in at 29, there is absolutely no question that he reinvigorates Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes. He also give the young players something too.
“If we bring in an experienced player of the right quality and the right sort, there is absolutely no question it gives Steven Gerrard a boost that he needs — Luis Suárez, Daniel Agger and the young players feed off it.”
Rodgers believes 28-year-old Wesley Sneijder has the potential to have a similarly positive effect on Liverpool as Van Persie has had on Manchester United. But with a transfer fee of €6.5 million and a salary of €6.5 million (about £5.4 million) per year, Sneijder is likely to prove beyond Liverpool’s financial reach.
“Affordability is the other part of it,” Rodgers said. “There are players who may be available but can we afford them? I can identify players who will help us improve and make us better, who will fit in to our work here, but it is the owners’ money.
“They have been here for a few years and they have put vast sums of money in. They are now assessing and seeing whether they are getting value.”
