MY BOYS CAN END REDS RUN
Rodgers determined to flatten Klopp stars
BRENDAN RODGERS has urged Leicester City to become the team who stop Liverpool going a year unbeaten in the Premier League this evening.
Jurgen Klopp’s League leaders have not tasted defeat in the competition since they lost 2-1 at Manchester City on January 3, though the Reds still missed out on the title by a point. Liverpool have played 34 League games since then without losing — but Leicester are their closest challengers this season, albeit 10 points adrift, and Rodgers said: ‘As a coach, you know it (the run) is going to end at some time so why not be the team that tries to do it? That’s the whole idea... You want to be the team who can go out there and
New Zealand to cheer his son on here, improved yesterday, allowing Ben to leave his bedside and rejoin an England squad ravaged by flu. As long as there is no change in the condition of his father, who was stable last night, Stokes will play here today in the final assignment of England’s momentous year. ‘The most important thing is that we support Ben and his family,’ said England captain Joe Root. ‘Family comes first and that’s how it should be. It will absolutely be down to Ben to decide if he is ready to play.’ The return of Stokes to training at SuperSport Park was just the fillip England needed after the latest setbacks to plans that
have been up in the air in the 10 days since they arrived here for a crucial four-Test series. Just when they thought the virus that has caused them so many problems had cleared up, three more players reported sick yesterday and missed Christmas Day training. Chris Woakes was taken ill on Christmas Eve and was joined yesterday by Ollie Pope and a relapse for Jack Leach, all with the same symptoms that had earlier struck Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer and coaches Carl Hopkinson and Graham Thorpe. The presence of Pope among the walking wounded might allow Jonny Bairstow to return in the middle order after he was dropped and stripped of wicketkeeping duties for the New Zealand tour. ‘We’ll have to wait and see,’ said