14 Mar 2014

'I'm Not Bothered': BR explains why £54m Man Utd duo are no threat to LFC

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has dismissed the threat posed to Liverpool by Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, arguing that the Reds will be well equipped to deal with them during this Sunday's crunch match at Old Trafford.

When asked during his pre-Man United press conference what he thought about the ability of Man United's strikers to hurt Liverpool, Rodgers mused:

"I'm not too bothered, really. [about RVP/Rooney]

"It's about our team. I have admiration for Rooney, and RVP won the league for them last year, but we have Suarez and Sturridge, who have world class ability.

"They [SAS] have proven they can hurt anyone, but overall, it's about the team, not just about the strikers"


£30m-rated Rooney and RVP (who cost United £24m) are not in the greatest form at the moment, but they're still having a consistent impact. Last TEN games:

* Rooney: 3 goals/4 assists.
* RVP: 5 goals/1 assist.
* TOTAL: 8 goals/5 assists in last 10 games.

Contrast this with Suarez and Sturridge:

* Suarez: 2 goals/6 assists.
* Sturridge: 9 goals/2 assists.
* TOTAL: 11 goals/8 assists in 10 games.

Over the whole season, Suarez and Sturridge are way ahead of Man United's strike-force, but on current form, the difference isn't that big, with Suarez, especially, going through a less-than-prolific period in front of goal. Suarez's mini-drought is an anomaly this season, however, and after scoring against Southampton last week, he's back on the goal trail.

I like Rodgers' attitude. He hasn't veered into counter-productive over-confidence; he's just honest about the team, and he should be focused on how LFC can hurt Man United, not the other way round. Of course, Man Utd will pose a major threat, but this season proves that the Reds are a match for anyone, and the confidence gained from that will be vital during Sunday's showdown.

** The betting odds on Sunday's match

Author:


30 comments:

  1. Hopefully our defense don't give them a chance to be a threat. i'm a little concerned that the 2 week layoff may slow our momentum a bit. With all that rest from competitive play, I wanna see the boys pressure United for 90 mins.

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  2. Sturridge and Suarez have created a total of 19 goals/assists in the last 10 games.


    RVP and Rooney have created a total of 13 goals/assists in the last 10 games.


    SAS has contributed 50% more goals/assists. That seems relatively significant to me.


    Now that's not to dismiss, RVP or Rooney. That's to highlight the contributions of Suarez and Sturridge.

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  3. Or Ben Davies at Swansea

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  4. Davies is quality isn't he.

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  5. It's nearly 50% more over the last 10 games. How is that not significant? God almighty. ...... shocking writing.

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  6. Has to be, after all he is British born footballer. Must be skillful & technically better than Brazilians, however, might not be physically that strong compared to Latin players.

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  7. I wish I knew a bit more about exactly what their policies are It would avoid a lot of people either arguing against them just because they're American or for them just because they are in charge and can do no wrong.
    The website is a now a "no controversy zone" filled with backslapping sycophantic articles from players and BR about each other and then we get the odd (and I mean odd) tweet or comment from JH.

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  8. SAS have contributed 6 more goals/assists than RVP and Rooney in the last 10 games. With respect, that's 31% more overall, not 50%.

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  9. I agree BR seems to be realy sure footed these days . Confidence breeds confidence on and off the pitch. No point him trying to do a Fergie or Morinho that is not his style.

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  10. I think it would all depend on the price. Liverpool under FSG seem to have earned a reputation as only paying what they consider to be the value of a player, at 29 his resale value is likely to be low, hence the low apparent first bid, such as it is, If price is driven up, we'll likely see the club switching to more expensive long term targets or similar short term low cost purchases. I'm sure FSG will know the value of experience but entrance into Europe will not make them forget their financial plan and blow stupid money, unless they think it's worth iit of course.

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  11. He is a FB, so for him 29 is somewhat like 25 for a winger or striker. Most defenders pick in late 20s & I think this guy with his versatility, technical superiority & skills, can easily operate at highest level for another 3 to 5 years. Good enough for us, but I am sure he 'll not be available for only 6mn, at least twice 'll be required. Still worthy, actually I suggest to close the agreement ASAP. If he wins the WC with Brazil, his price 'll go up multiple fold.

    I want as many non Brits as possible in current LFC team, playing wonderful football on grass. There are 8 minimum required (actually home grown, not Brits) for 25 men squad - 2 backup keepers, Kelly (6th choice CB), Flanaghan (back up RB), SG, Allen, Hendo & Sturridge. For rest position, with similar cost, we can get twice the player outside UK. I feel dizzy that Donkey Carroll cost 35m & Granny F****r Rooney draws 300K/week.

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  12. Thank goodness you chose journalism not banking

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  13. Why dont you want Brits, who are you to say that. So Gerard, Sturridge, Henderson, Sterling, Flanagan ( he is not a back up Right back, he is right back ) are not good enough then.
    If we bought Shaw & Lallana, that would make us weaker would it.?
    I personally dont care which country our players come from, as long as they are good enough, but if they are UK based they are more likely to stay at the club in my opinion.
    However I dont like it when people like you ( so called LIVERPOOL fc fan ) write off players just because they are brits.( Rooney is a great player by the way, who I wish we could bring in to LFC ) its like saying all Ukranian players are crap because of Voronin.
    This club have had their finest triumps and best years with BRITISH & IRISH players, but there again you probably only started supporting LFC during the Benitez era!
    .

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  14. By the way I am a LFC supporter and a scouser, not some right wing England supporter..

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  15. * 19 is 31% more than 13, is it not? If the question is 'how many more goals/assist have SAS got than RVP+R, the answer is surely 31% more...?

    Depends on which way you look at it, perhaps. Maybe some maths guru can chime in with the correct answer :-)

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  16. Ridiculous comment.

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  17. well said.

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  18. There's not many clubs who wouldn't want him at 6m, even 12 mil. He seems a bit old for our buy em young policy, but I wonder if we qualify for the CL will the transfer policy alter slightly? Maybe we will see more investment to bring quality in for the short term (3-5 years), with no real re-sale value, but I'm not holding my breath.

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  19. Van Persie and Rooney are no doubt world class players, but with the turmoil surrounding the Utd team at the moment there should be no hint a fear going into this match. We should be going in with respect for a team that can still hurt you on their day, but the confidence of the leagues top scorers and a team on a roll.
    United-Liverpool will always be a fixture that plays with no regard to league standings, but i can't see past a win for us.

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  20. Sorry JK, 19 is about 47% more than 13...

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  21. So you did 19 divided by 6, multiplied by 100 to calculate that 31% "increase"

    Lol. Fail

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  22. I already have :-)


    I

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  23. Chill mate, nothing against British players. Problem is, they cost obnoxiously high & for a budget team like us, I just don't want to over spend. For the deals done by KK & DC, we are basically 3-4 years behind (imagine that 100mn spent on players from outside England). Adam Lallana & Shaw are indeed good players & 'll make us stronger, but after WC (if some how ENG manages to avoid 3 defeats from that group) they 'll cost at least 50mn, & a wage of 170K/week combined. I don't want that.


    How good a Right Back Flanaghan 'll be? Just wait & see - next year he 'll be taking some continental club wingers, that too in mid week, after Saturday afternoon match. & for Rooney - I also would have loved to see him in LFC Red, BUT not for 50mn fee or 300k/week wage. That's CR, Messi, Zlatan or Ribery level, he is couple of level behind. Because of this obnoxious expense, hardly any English player plays outside UK, because with similar money, so much talent is available outside.



    Our success in 70s & 80s were indeed on British Isles based players, but when out of 9-10 European WC places, at least 3 were coming from here, meaning the quality was there. Today, England is mediocre at best, rest 4 are minnows. You can't win with English (Language) based players only. Apart from money & media mockery, nothing left in British football. England in the only elite National team under foreign Manager, otherwise we have Woy. Barring Sir Alex, Aarry Redknapp is only British, once taking a PL club to CL this millennium. Since Owen in 2000, not a single Brit has won the EPL Golden boot.



    With money, in last 20 years, lots of Foreign players have come here, so have some of the best Managers, changing the whole equation of English game. Football philosophy has changed, teams had been much more tactical, fields have improved - hence most of the football these days played on grass; a trait British Hoofballers are not comfortable with.


    I have nothing against English players, but their loyalty is only subject to the money paid.

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  24. Jaimie I'm going to be very optimistic here,we have been linked with Tello,Montoya,Sanchez and now adriano all from barca in the last 12 months...yes il take all four please,there we go summer signings all sorted...if song wants to come with them then great...hope I haven't been too greedy but hey I can dream

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  25. They bought him to make their squad better. It has not happened. Spurs have also bought a lot more players than LFC [from under LFC noses] and it still hasn't helped.

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  26. You seem to be doing exactly that.

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  27. I don't rate him either. But I don't see the need to spend big on another keeper. Seems we have cover especially if Reina is retained. Don't see the sense in selling Pepe when the money being talked about is peanuts.

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  28. Every season we always have a chance to beat Manure. The league standings are reversed this year but it won't mean a thing when it comes to games between our 2 clubs. Reality is that Manure have to be favourites at home but if things go our way we can nick a point or 3. Come on you Reds I will be watching with clenched sphinctre hahaha

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  29. reckon we could get Micah Richards on the cheap he's a player I really rate.

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  30. You took the 6 goal difference as a percentage of 19, not 13 as you should have done, Hence your mistake.

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