Showing posts with label Brendan Rodgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brendan Rodgers. Show all posts

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Balotelli display leaves Rodgers fuming

It was another night to forget for Mario Balotelli as Real Madrid strolled to a 3-0 win at Anfield.

The Italy striker has struggled for form since his £16 million arrival from AC Milan and was unable to get out of first gear against the European champions on Wednesday evening.

To top it off, Balotelli was caught swapping shirts at half-time with Pepe, a gesture which irked Brendan Rodgers.

“That's the first I've heard (about Balotelli swapping his shirt) and I wouldn't like it either. It shouldn't happen and if that's the case, I'll deal with it,” said the Liverpool manager.

“It’s not something I stand for and it’s something I deal with internally.

Thursday, 23 October 2014 12:00

Friday, September 19, 2014

Tired Costa run into the ground

Diego Costa may have made an electric start to his Chelsea career, leading the Premier League scoring charts already, but the Blues may struggle to rely on the Spain international for the whole season.

The Brazilian-born forward endured an injury-plagued end to last term with Atletico Madrid, which led to a miserable World Cup, and has been struggling with various problems in recent weeks, notably withdrawn from the Roja squad for their Euro 2016 qualifier.

Costa was then omitted from the starting XI to face Schalke on Wednesday night, with Jose Mourinho revealing that his star forward is unable to play so many games so close together as Chelsea prepare to wrap the 25-year-old in cotton wool.

"Diego Costa is not in a condition to play three matches in a week," said the Portuguese after the side's 1-1 draw with the Bundesliga strugglers.

"He has problems at this moment. When he plays one game he needs a week to recover to be in condition to play in the next game. We play now in midweek – he can’t do it."
On the other hand Real Madrid's Benzema and Liverpool's Balotelli finally scored their first goals this season in the Champions League opening.

Thursday, 18 September 2014 11:00

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

The Champions League returns

Just four months after Cristiano Ronaldo & co. were holding aloft the giant trophy in Benfica's Stadium of Light, the Champions League is back as the group stages kick-off on Tuesday night.

Holders Real Madrid are in action against Basel and will be eager to kick-start their season, having so far struggled domestically, while Italian champions Juventus will be looking for a longer-lasting European adventure this time around - and have been handed an easier draw, beginning against Malmo.

The Premier League is well represented too, with Arsenal travelling to Dortmund looking to repeat the victory they recorded last term, while Liverpool's absence from Europe's premier club competition is finally over as they begin against Ludogorets.

As ever, you can follow all the action as it unfolds LIVE with Goal.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 11:30


Saturday, August 30, 2014

Jovetic upstages Balotelli’s arrival

After his £16 million move to Liverpool was completed, Mario Balotelli returned to Manchester City as a spectator on Monday evening to witness his new team-mates slip to a 3-1 defeat.

Stevan Jovetic was the star of the show as his double, along with Sergio Aguero’s strike, sealed victory for the Premier League champions.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 12:00

Friday, August 22, 2014

Super Mario on verge of Liverpool move

Liverpool are on the verge of completing a £16 million swoop for volatile AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, with the Italian having already said his goodbyes to his Rossoneri team-mates.

The dart-throwing, supercar-wrecking, pig-owning striker enjoyed a tumultuous stay in the Premier League with Manchester City, and more fireworks are expected should he finalise a move to Anfield.

Balotelli will be expected to fill the void left by Luis Suarez - one of the few players in the world who is even more controversial than the 24-year-old - and Brendan Rodgers faces a tough task in keeping football's ultimate bad boy under control.
Friday, August 22, 2014 11:50

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Suarez struggling to let go of Liverpool

Luis Suarez is having difficulty letting Liverpool go from his life.

The Uruguayan left Anfield this summer in a gigantic £75 million move to Barcelona but his former manager Brendan Rodgers revealed he received a text from Suarez before their 2-1 opening day win over Southampton.

Far removed from the pantomime villain we have become accustomed to seeing, Rodgers described the text as "lovely" and said he is a "friend of Liverpool now."

Suarez is set to take part in a friendly on Monday night against Leon, where he will feature alongside his new team-mates Leo Messi and Neymar, but seems like he has yet to fully focus on the Catalans.
Monday, 18 August 2014 13:01

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Van Gaal sets sights on Premier League title

Louis van Gaal has secured his first trophy (of sorts) at Manchester United after he guided his side past Liverpool in the International Champions Cup final.

Waye Rooney found the net for the fifth time in pre-season as United ran out 3-1 winners at the Sun Life Stadium, with Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard also getting on the scoresheet.

Van Gaal will now be hoping United’s encouraging pre-season displays can transfer to their Premier League campaign as they look to beat the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to the title.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014 12:00

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

The World Cup is over, let the transfer window rush begin!

With the World Cup now well and truly over, our attention returns to the Premier League and the summer transfer window. There have been a number colossal deals so far - Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez and Luis Suarez to name but three - and there seems no sign of the elite clubs holding back in the market.

With the likes of Diego Costa, Filipe Luis, Arturo Vidal, Toni Kroos, Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira all supposedly available, it really is a race to see who can snap up which superstar the fastest.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 12:41

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Third time unlucky? Suarez bites again

Luis Suarez shocked the world on Tuesday by appearing to bite the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay's must-win clash against the Azzurri.

The 27-year-old was supported by domestic club Liverpool the last time he was involved in such an incident, with the Reds standing by the former Ajax man during a 10-game ban for delving his teeth into Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.

With Fifa now investigated his latest indiscretion, Suarez could be set for another lengthy ban, which would be a major blow to both the Merseysiders and manager Brendan Rodgers.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 12:30

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Liverpool calling in Carroll favour

In a curious quirk of fate, Liverpool are hoping Andy Carroll - a player they sold last summer - can hand them the Premier League title by netting against Manchester City on Sunday.

The Reds must beat Newcastle and hope West Ham can triumph at the Etihad Stadium, with a draw likely to be enough for City who boast a healthy goal difference advantage over the Merseysiders.

Anfield midfielder Lucas Leiva admitted he would be texting both the Hammers frontman and former Reds winger Stewart Downing to urge them to do everything possible to beat City, with Carroll saying he would "do his best" to crown his old club champions.

Ironically, after ushering Carroll towards the Anfield exit little under a year ago, Liverpool now need the towering Geordie striker to do them a massive favour - it would certainly be one way to repay his £35m price-tag!
Sunday, 11 May 2014 08:30

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Man City move ahead in title race

Manchester City moved into pole position in the title race after beating Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men were forced to come from behind to secure the win but did enough to claim all three points that takes them top of the table on goal difference.

Chelsea’s title hopes faded into the distance on Sunday, however, after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Norwich, while Liverpool will hope to keep pace as they face Crystal Palace on Monday.
Sunday, May 4, 2014 20:51

Chelsea's season threatens to go down the toilet

Having been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions and eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, Chelsea's only hope for silverware this season is to win the Premier League.

The Blues, though, are third favourites for the title behind Liverpool and Manchester City, and Jose Mourinho has dismissed his side's chances of overcoming the odds to win the league.

Chelsea's woes were summed up by David Luiz, who said a trophyless campaign for the west Londoners would be considered "a s*** season", and even victory in all their remaining games may not be enough to save their aspirations from going down the toilet.
Saturday, May 3, 2014 11:30

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Tears for Suarez as Liverpool's title hopes fade

After watching his side squander a comfortable 3-0 lead, Luis Suarez could not contain his emotions at the final whistle as Crystal Palace dashed Liverpool's hope of securing the Premier League title on Monday evening.

The Uruguayan was consoled by both Kolo Toure and Steven Gerrard as he left the pitch, while Manchester City look to hammer home their title advantage by beating Aston Villa at home on Wednesday.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014 12:00

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Rodgers and Mourinho gear up for title clash

Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield on Sunday in what promises to be another dramatic day in the race for the Premier League title.

The Reds go into the game on top of the pile, five points clear of Jose Mourinho’s men with the Blues boss threatening to field a weakened team, with an eye on Wednesday's Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Victory for Liverpool will see them put one hand on the trophy, but manager Brendan Rodgers knows defeat will open up the title race once again.
Sunday, 27 April 2014 11:12

Monday, April 21, 2014

Mourinho stung as title turns to Rodgers

Jose Mourinho had quite the bee in his bonnet after his incredible record of unbeaten Premier League games at home as Chelsea manager came to an end on Saturday.

In a result that handed the advantage in the title race firmly to Liverpool, on-loan Reds forward Fabio Borini scored the decisive penalty as Sunderland beat the Blues 2-1 and the Portuguese sarcastically "congratulated" Mike Dean and his officiating team as well as Gus Poyet's side after the game.

While the Chelsea boss was stung by what he saw as an unfair defeat, it was all smiles for Brendan Rodgers, who has had no such bad luck and looks to have had the title dropped in his lap after Liverpool's 3-2 win over Norwich City on Sunday.
Sunday, 20 April 2014 14:57