Liverpool vs. Sunderland: Brendan Rodgers and Gus Poyet Post-Match Reaction
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised both his players and Gus Poyet's Sunderland men after their goalless draw at Anfield, which kept his Liverpool side four points off the Champions League qualification positions.
The Reds' boss was reflective in his thoughts and claimed his team's lack of luck was a deciding factor in the result, per Mike Keegan of BBC Sport:
"I thought the players gave everything and in the second half we looked like we could make breakthrough. Sunderland proved this year that they are a hard team to beat.
I can't fault the players. They needed a wee bit of luck and it didn't come. If you can't win it's important you don't lose. We've taken seven points from nine this week which is a good return for us.
"
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Rodgers also singled out his captain Steven Gerrard, who only entered the game from the bench after being left out of the side for the second successive weekend running.
The manager hailed Gerrard's impact after appearing as a second-half sub, and also said Raheem Sterling was "outstanding" on the day, per Keegan:
"Stevie (Gerrard) coming on gave everyone a lift. I thought him and Raheem (Sterling) were outstanding. It was a solid performance and we just couldn't quite make the breakthrough.
"
Rodgers also spoke about a late penalty incident in the match as Sterling appeared to be brought down by Sunderland defender, Wes Brown.
But the coach admitted that the referee did not get his lines incorrect and the call was certainly a fair one, per Keegan:
"When I looked at it (Sterling's penalty appeal) again afterwards, closely, Wes Brown has a dangle for the ball and misses it. Raheem, as he comes down, lands on Wes Brown. I don't think it was a dive and I don't think it was a penalty. I think the referee made the right decision.
"
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet was clearly disappointed after the game, saying he felt his team could have won all three points at Anfield.
His side were Liverpool's equal in many positions on the park, and despite the Reds' late surge, the Black Cats had chances to score, per Keegan:
"I think there are times in life when you get opportunities. Today we lost a great opportunity to win at Anfield. Overall, what we tried to achieve is improve and pass ball better I think we have done that.
I think we were better and when the game was open we created chances. That's what we can do at the moment. We made four or five changes. We were fresh and we needed that. All in all it was a decent performance from a team that is in the process of getting better.
In terms of defending and keeping a clean sheet we went back to the basics. We need to score more goals and be more clinical. The most important thing is to win and at the moment we cannot win too many.
"
Liverpool will be disappointed to drop more points during this season but at the moment their performance levels lack quality and concentration.
Journalist Imran Garda highlighted the Anfield super-club's lack of depth and average signings in the last transfer window, blaming a host of poor decisions as the reason for the team's collapse in form:
Sunderland have shown how far they have come under Poyet and it is not surprising the Uruguayan coach feels he could have been on the winning team bus on Saturday night. Rodgers has much to evaluate in the next few weeks and he must find a formula to unlock Sterling in the attacking third.
At the moment, Sterling is shackled and despite being praised by Rodgers today, he was not effective as in the manner of last season.
The reliance on Gerrard is all too evident and without him the ship looks rudderless.
Rodgers needs to find a defensive unit that will allow his flair players to play with confidence and verve, but the Anfield club are nowhere near this at present.
Only a shrewd set of signings in January will guarantee the club a place in next season's Champions League competition.
