There is no quick fix, warns Rodgers
BREnDAn Rodgers has admitted his Liverpool side have lost their identity and warned there will be no quick solution to their problems.
Liverpool’s manager has been subjected to mounting criticism following chastening defeats by West ham and Manchester united and understands why their slovenly play and inability to retain possession has come under fire.
Rodgers, who will ring the changes tonight when Liverpool begin their Europa League campaign, prides himself on getting teams to attack with speed and hemming opponents back with relentless pressing but he is struggling to get them to perform in that manner this season.
When he finds the right blend within his squad, Rodgers is confident Liverpool’s form will improve but, for the moment, the northern Irishman says it will be a case of trying to work their way through a demanding sequence of fixtures.
‘It is good at least I have an identity as a coach and a way of working that is clear,’ said Rodgers. ‘ I could see where anyone making that comment about identity would come from because the way of working and that model is pretty clear.
‘It’s something I need to ensure we get back to — playing that fluent way — and we are all working to reintroduce and reinforce how we worked over last few seasons, as we want to get back to that level. I can understand why people would say that.’
What has been most troubling for Liverpool is their possession statistics in their opening five matches: they are averaging less than 50 per cent in games and nobody is more concerned than Rodgers that they are some distance from the brand with which he is associated.
‘ We have seen in our last performances that if we don’t bring that, then we don’t get results so it goes hand in glove,’ said Rodgers. ‘We have an inherent belief that if we can work and play to that level, we will have a great chance. That’s the key thing, getting that performance level right.
‘Of course you can lose games but it’s how you lose them. The last couple haven’t been ways that we want to. I’ve said before we have won when I haven’t been pleased with how we played. We have also lost games mes when I haven’t been too oo annoyed with how wee played.
‘But it’s about that performance level. Once we see signs of it returning, I’ll be much happier as we will be heading in the right direction. There’s s been a big transformation in the last couple of years here and I have to get us back to the exciting way of working we have had before.’
Liverpool have left a number of their big players back on Merseyside to prepare for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League game against norwich — most notably Christian Benteke, James Milner and nathaniel Clyne.
Another reverse would, inevita- bly, see the pressure on Rodgers intensify but he is comfortable with the situation, maintaining the scrutiny on him to deliver results is no greater than when he first arrived at Anfield three years ago.
‘The pressure is the same as it has ever been and it is the same as it was last year,’ said Rodgers. ‘I don’t think it has increased at all but it just comes with managing a great club. ‘Obviously the last two results have been disappointing but it says a lot about the club losing a couple of games. ‘My approach is the same as when I first came in: we played those who were needing games, but maybe young players as well. We did it back then when we were in the Europa League and finished top of the group and qualified. This is the same here.
‘We have a lot of games coming up over next couple of months and I have every confidence every team I put out can win the game.’