• Premier League

Rodgers defends 'brilliant' Gerrard

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he has "no concerns whatsoever" over the contributions of Steven Gerrard despite his captain struggling to make an impact in Saturday's defeat at West Ham.

His team have endured a difficult start to the new Premier League season, losing three out of their opening five games, and questions about their leadership and playing system have been raised despite a series of injury problems in the squad.

However, Rodgers said: "He [Gerrard] is a brilliant player for us, really talented. It was a team performance overall that just wasn't quite up to scratch. I feel we have managed his recovery really well in the last two seasons.

"Even when Steven was playing international football, I think if you look at his numbers and games and minutes he has played, you'll see in the last couple of seasons that it is as good as it has been in his career.

"He is obviously at the age where we will look at him individually as a player. We want him to be involved in our big games because of his experiences and his talent, and we'll always taper that recovery for him to allow him to be at the very best he can be."

Rodgers has said the weight of expectation may have affected some of his younger charges, while the transition inevitable after integrating nine new players has also been problematic.

But he has concluded there is a need for his players to go back to basics and a review of the team's tactics. He may experiment League Cup tie at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday as well as giving some game time to promising youngsters, including Sheyi Ojo and Jordan Rossiter.

Rodgers said: "We need to get back to doing what we do best. I look at the movement patterns in our team, our pressing in those patterns of pressure and with the injured ones, I need to retain a system for a longer period.

"The 4-4-2 diamond worked really well but it worked well with certain players but not at the weekend. Until I get all the players back that I know are available and can play and are multifunctional players, I'll look at the strength of the players we do have fit. Hopefully that will give them confidence.

"Our passing disappointed me at the weekend. We played more long passes than West Ham and that is something the people who watch us regularly have not seen in over the two years. We need to get back to that way of working and we know that will bring us success."

One issue the Liverpool manager has refused to dwell on is that of Daniel Agger's departure and claims that he was not appreciated at the club.

Agger, who was sold to Brondby in the summer after eight years at Liverpool, told Danish television that he and Rodgers had "not been on the same page" for most of last season.

Rodgers said: "I only saw that this morning. I have nothing really to say on it. I think Dan gave his reasons for leaving when he left and we wished him well when he went.

"Out of respect to him, I don't really want to say any more on it. We wished him well and he is a Brondby player now - he has moved on."

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