• Premier League

Liverpool owners back Rodgers' fringe players plan

ESPN staff
November 7, 2014
Rodgers: We can get a result

Brendan Rodgers says he is paid to make courageous decisions at Liverpool - and the owners are happy with the ones he has made.

The Liverpool manager has been criticised after rotating his squad for the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday, when he made seven changes at the Bernabeu with Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson all starting on the bench.

Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool's owners backed his decision to rotate his squad against Real Madrid © Getty Images
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Crucially, however, Rodgers has not faced criticism from Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group. On Thursday he met with chairman Tom Werner, who gave Rodgers his full backing ahead of Saturday's game against Chelsea at Anfield.

"The owners have been brilliant," said Rodgers. "The only people who matter to me are the people here at the club, the players and supporters. You become a manager and know the criticism will come. Whether it is deserved or not you take it.

"Tom spoke to me and straight away they see the courage in playing a different team and younger players and how I have dealt with my situation here. They have always been supportive, great for me."

Liverpool's supporters also seem to have given Rodgers their backing, with the manager's name sung by the 4,500 away fans at the Bernabeu after the 1-0 defeat to Madrid.

Rodgers admits he knew he was taking a gamble, however, and that the criticism would have been far worse had his move seriously backfired with a heavier defeat.

"The only thing I showed the other night was the trust I have in the team," insisted Rodgers. "I never feared that if I play this team we are going to end up losing 7, 8-0 and what would be the consequence of that.

"I have never gone into a game in my life and felt that we are not going to get a result. But the thinking and the strategy that goes behind it is deep in terms of analysing the opponent.

"You have to be bold enough to make the decisions as a manager.

"That is why you are paid the money you are paid. If you make more wrong ones than right ones you will be out of work. It's a big risk but for me I'm happy with the decisions I make.

"My players were magnificent. I know there is a little bit of criticism about the selection, but it does a disservice to the players who played."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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