• Premier League

Enrique: Liverpool aiming to copy Barcelona

ESPN staff
August 27, 2012
Liverpool are looking to pass the ball under Brendan Rodgers © Getty Images
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Spanish full-back Jose Enrique is certain that the Barcelona approach will bring success to Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers.

Enrique, 26, who played in the Primera Liga for Celta Vigo and Villarreal before moving to England, feels that the new manager has got Liverpool playing the right way. Rodgers wants his team to play out from the back and develop a fast passing, high pressing game in the manner of Barcelona.

His players have had one or two teething troubles with the new philosophy, as defender Martin Skrtel gave away an equaliser during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Manchester City with a careless pass that went straight to scorer Carlos Tevez. That goal came after Martin Kelly's mistake had allowed Yaya Toure to score City's first.

Enrique, who recovered from a knee injury to appear as a second-half substitute for Kelly against City on Sunday, is sure that Liverpool will feel the benefits of their new style once they cut out the mistakes.

"I think this is the way we have to play this year. Because there is a new manager, we need time, but if we can play like this I think we will get many points. It is like the manager wants," Enrique said. "He tells us when we lose the ball to press like lions. He wants the team, when we have the ball, to try to keep it  but when we don't have the ball, to do better than when we have it, press and try to take the ball."

The former Newcastle man believes his current club can learn something from the continent's finest. "The best team in the world is the best example: Barcelona. You could see against Real Madrid a few days ago, how when they have the ball it is amazing and when they lose it, within three or four seconds they have it back.

"This is the way we try to play. We can't compare with Barcelona  they are different, but we are trying to play like this. We are starting to learn but we are learning well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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