This has definitely come from a briefing. Here's Barrett on the same thing:
Tony Barrett
Published at 12:01AM, September 4 2013
Brendan Rodgers is ready to hand Luis Suárez a new role in Liverpool’s attack after Daniel Sturridge’s outstanding early-season form convinced him that the England international deserves an extended run as first-choice striker.
Sturridge has scored ten goals in eight games in the period since Suárez was banned for ten matches after biting Branislav Ivanovic, the Chelsea defender, and Rodgers believes that the 24-year-old is benefiting from a long run in his favoured position.
Suárez is due to make his comeback in Liverpool’s Capital One Cup tie away to Manchester United on September 25, but he will do so in the knowledge that he is now more likely to be deployed in support of Sturridge rather than as an out-and-out front man.
Rodgers envisages Suárez playing from the wide areas, a role he filled at Ajax, in a fluid first-choice attack that will also feature Philippe Coutinho and Victor Moses, who joined Liverpool on a season-long loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day.
Given Suárez’s unsuccessful attempts to force a transfer over the summer, it would be easy to see Rodgers’s tactical blueprint as a snub for the Uruguay player. The Liverpool manager, though, had been looking to implement the change in approach before Suárez tried to engineer a move to Arsenal.
Relations between the pair have improved significantly in recent weeks after Suárez informed Rodgers that he could depend on his total commitment during clear-the-air talks before the start of the season.
Martin Skrtel insists that he never considered leaving Liverpool despite losing his place in Rodgers’s side in the second half of last season. The defender made his first start in the Barclays Premier League since March in the 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and Skrtel is hoping to see off the challenge posed by Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori, the new signings.
“I’m staying at Liverpool,” Skrtel said. “The rumours were never as strong as it was made out. There has been no contact with other clubs because the Liverpool management told me that they were counting on me. That is why a transfer was never in my plans.”
Liverpool fear Glen Johnson is facing a lengthy lay-off after being forced to delay a diagnosis on his ankle injury by a week.
The right back limped off during the latter stages of Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and immediately pulled out of England’s World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine.
Johnson suffered what is being described as “a high ankle sprain” following a block tackle on Patrice Evra and Liverpool’s medical staff want the bruising to subside before determining the seriousness of the injury.
“After being examined by the club’s medical staff at Melwood, Johnson is required to rest his ankle this week,” a statement on the club’s website said.
“A further review will then take place to check stability and decide on further management. Therefore, Liverpool have not put a time frame on Johnson’s return to fitness at this stage.”
Tony Barrett
Published at 12:01AM, September 4 2013
Brendan Rodgers is ready to hand Luis Suárez a new role in Liverpool’s attack after Daniel Sturridge’s outstanding early-season form convinced him that the England international deserves an extended run as first-choice striker.
Sturridge has scored ten goals in eight games in the period since Suárez was banned for ten matches after biting Branislav Ivanovic, the Chelsea defender, and Rodgers believes that the 24-year-old is benefiting from a long run in his favoured position.
Suárez is due to make his comeback in Liverpool’s Capital One Cup tie away to Manchester United on September 25, but he will do so in the knowledge that he is now more likely to be deployed in support of Sturridge rather than as an out-and-out front man.
Rodgers envisages Suárez playing from the wide areas, a role he filled at Ajax, in a fluid first-choice attack that will also feature Philippe Coutinho and Victor Moses, who joined Liverpool on a season-long loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day.
Given Suárez’s unsuccessful attempts to force a transfer over the summer, it would be easy to see Rodgers’s tactical blueprint as a snub for the Uruguay player. The Liverpool manager, though, had been looking to implement the change in approach before Suárez tried to engineer a move to Arsenal.
Relations between the pair have improved significantly in recent weeks after Suárez informed Rodgers that he could depend on his total commitment during clear-the-air talks before the start of the season.
Martin Skrtel insists that he never considered leaving Liverpool despite losing his place in Rodgers’s side in the second half of last season. The defender made his first start in the Barclays Premier League since March in the 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and Skrtel is hoping to see off the challenge posed by Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori, the new signings.
“I’m staying at Liverpool,” Skrtel said. “The rumours were never as strong as it was made out. There has been no contact with other clubs because the Liverpool management told me that they were counting on me. That is why a transfer was never in my plans.”
Liverpool fear Glen Johnson is facing a lengthy lay-off after being forced to delay a diagnosis on his ankle injury by a week.
The right back limped off during the latter stages of Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and immediately pulled out of England’s World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine.
Johnson suffered what is being described as “a high ankle sprain” following a block tackle on Patrice Evra and Liverpool’s medical staff want the bruising to subside before determining the seriousness of the injury.
“After being examined by the club’s medical staff at Melwood, Johnson is required to rest his ankle this week,” a statement on the club’s website said.
“A further review will then take place to check stability and decide on further management. Therefore, Liverpool have not put a time frame on Johnson’s return to fitness at this stage.”
