Brendan Rodgers rounded on Raheem Sterling’s advisers and the role they played in destabilising the buildup to a vital game after watching his team succumb 4-1 to Arsenal and slip out of the Champions League reckoning. “You are not a 20-year-old boy and you pick up the phone and ask to speak to the BBC,” said Rodgers. “You don’t do it. Him in particular. But, of course, if he is asked to do that by other parties then that is what he’ll do.
“In the modern game it’s something that would frustrate us all. It’s the market. In fairness to Raheem, I brought Raheem in from the youth team so I know the kid well and I know a big part of this is nothing to do with him. Kid who is focused on his football, works hard every single day, he just wants to play his football. The kid gives me everything every time he trains and plays. Loyalty is not something so prevalent in the modern game.”
Rodgers has spent time talking privately to Sterling and he reaffirmed his belief that the forward is going nowhere. “I had a good chat with him and given my opinion on it,” said Rodgers. “The only thing I will say on Raheem’s situation is anyone can see through his football development, and financial, Liverpool Football Club is the best place for him.
“He has had the opportunity to play, which is key for a young player. It’s the model of Liverpool, the owners want to create world-class talent. He came in at 17 years of age, I deemed him worthy to come in and become a regular. In two and a half years he has proven that. He has played in a number of different positions, which has improved him tactically and technically.”
Rodgers suggested that the hullaballoo had no impact on Sterling’s performance against Arsenal. There was little he and his team-mates could do to repel some outstanding attacking football. Arsenal’s run of seven straight wins has pushed them up to second place in the Premier League table.
While Arsène Wenger tried to maintain a sense of realism about his outside chance of challenging Chelsea at the summit of the Premier League, he insisted his team would do everything to stay in position “if the opportunity presented itself” to take advantage.
“We need for us to be perfect and Chelsea not to be perfect,” he said. “We just want to give the maximum in all our matches. Chelsea have a difficult programme, us too. Let’s focus on what we can master. What we can master now mathematically is the top four.”
Arsenal look very well set for that, having opened up a nine-point lead over Liverpool with one of their most emphatic wins of the season.
Rodgers conceded the Champions League was now out of the equation for him. “We have been dealt two big blows in the last two games [against Manchester United and Arsenal]. We won’t, I very much doubt, be in top four come the end of the season. There is too much ground to make up. We must focus on the FA Cup now.”
Already without the influential Martin Skrtel, they will be without Emre Can for the trip to Ewood Park in the quarter-final replay on Wednesday after his sending off. Mario Balotelli did not make the trip to London after deciding his knee was too sore. “He deemed it not able for travel,” said Rodgers.
