Brendan Rodgers appeals for time to re-establish his style after Harry Redknapp blasts Liverpool as 'bang average'
Rodgers refused to hit back at Redknapp, instead insisting that his pure, passing game will return if his side is afforded patience
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Clock watching: Rodgers believes his side will soon be playing with a swagger again. Photo: AP
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By
Chris Bascombe
10:30PM BST 11 Sep 2015
32 Comments
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has appealed for time to re-establish the distinctive playing style that typified the start of his reign as his new signings adapt.
Rodgers’ idealistic philosophy has been notable by its absence this season and
he heads to Old Trafford on Saturday having heard Harry Redknapp brand his side “bang average” and “the worst Liverpool team in years”.
The Northern Irishman is adamant that the pure, passing game he promised on his appointment in 2012 – and which he delivered when competing for the title in his second season – will return.
“People will always form opinions and Harry is someone I have huge respect for,” Rodgers said. “But it’s a team that has changed and will progress over the course of the season.
“I know this group of players will improve as the season moves on. We need to give this group a bit of time. That’s something ill afforded to you in modern football but I get great excitement when I see the players, and
seeing the likes of Daniel [Sturridge] coming back.
“I think this team will show its worth over the course of the season, not just in these early games. In the season when we nearly won the league we didn’t really play that brand of football until November or December time.
“It’s clear how we want to work. I’m not one who chops and changes the philosophy – that’s something inherent in you. The idea and the philosophy is very clear on how we play. We want to be really creative – create opportunities to score goals while having a strong defensive organisation.
“I’ll always believe in that way. When you work that way with that vision, the consequences of that is teams that will gradually improve. What we are seeing at the moment is players coming in and adapting to it.”
The sight of Sturridge back in training has raised spirits at Liverpool
It was prior to
Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford last season that Rodgers decided to reshape his team and reconnect with his preferred, possession-based game. After reverting to three centre-halves Liverpool found form, but there have been consistent reshuffles within games since the end of last season.
“It was probably the best defeat I’ve ever had,” said Rodgers on the last Old Trafford experience. “Of course you never want to lose a game and especially not to a rival like Manchester United. But I saw enough that day to know that we had got our identity back again. We created a lot of chances and should have scored goals but we ultimately lost the game because we didn’t defend well enough. From that moment we kicked on and had a very good spell.”
Despite three encouraging results at the start of the season, Liverpool have shown little resemblance to Rodgers’s most attractive sides and the demoralising defeat by West Ham underlined how quickly the wounds of last season can reopen.
“It’s very difficult taking a performance like that because you wonder where it comes from, particularly because we hadn’t showed signs of that in the opening three games,” Rodgers said. “You obviously can’t be positive after the game and for a day or two you don’t think the garden is rosy, it was a disappointing performance. But once you come away and analyse it and work you get the chance to review it you get solutions, and that’s what is important.
“You go away and look where you can be better and the areas where we disappointed and the key to moving on – which is what you have to do – is to try and find the solutions to that.
“I feel it’s going to be a league like that this year. Look at Chelsea’s recent results and you know any team can beat you. Look at the home teams – only nine wins in 40 games.”
Rodgers will be forced to make at least one change to his line-up with Philippe Coutinho suspended. Danny Ings is expected to make his first start.
“I have no qualms about putting him in. He scored there last season, and he’s been a real bright spark since he came,” Rodgers said.
“He’s a threat to the goal, he works hard presses well and has that quality in front of goal.”
Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Sturridge are not in the travelling squad for Old Trafford. Sturridge is making progress after his recovery from hip surgery, however.
“Daniel looked very very sharp in training yesterday and probably the best he has looked fitness wise for 18 months,” Rodgers said.
“There is no timeline on when he will be fit to participate. From experience I don’t want to put any timeline on him coming back, he has worked very hard in America and our medical team has done a brilliant job.”
