• Premier League

We did enough to beat Manchester United, says Rodgers

ESPN staff
December 14, 2014
Brendan Rodgers watched his Liverpool side squander several chances at Old Trafford © Getty Images
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claimed his side's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday "epitomised" the club's season so far.

Goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie sealed victory but it was United goalkeeper David De Gea who took the plaudits after keeping Liverpool at bay.

"I thought we did enough to win the game," Rodgers told Sky Sports after the defeat at Old Trafford. "We created enough chances to win the game but we also made defensive mistakes.

"It probably epitomised our season, we're not prolific enough in terms of goalscoring. I think David De Gea was man of the match, that doesn't surprise me. I've seen him have four or five games like that.

"The first half we were the better side but we can't concede the goals we did. We nearly went in front and they broke up the other end and got a goal, we lost a runner from midfield which you can't do.

"It's easy, we know what the solutions are but we have to keep working and hopefully the confidence will return. At least we created the opportunities and if we can cut out the mistakes we're going to be in with a chance of winning more games.

"We came here last season and it was the reverse scoreline, today we were the better side in the first half but you can't concede the goals we did."

Rodgers admitted he does not feel any additional pressure over his job, despite his side failing to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League and ultimately failing to replicate the form that saw them take the Premier League title race to the final day last season.

"We had huge changes in the summer and that has taken time for us to find our way," Rodgers told BBC Sport.

"The most important thing for me today was we looked like scoring. Over the course of the season we haven't been creative enough. Raheem Sterling was outstanding, his movement was great. He was just unfortunate not to get a goal.

"I didn't think it was a 3-0 game. I thought we were the better team in the first half but we gave away disappointing goals today."

Sterling started the game through the centre as Rodgers opted to field a side without an out-and-out striker.

"I thought the kid was outstanding," Rodgers said. "I asked him to play central where he could penetrate. He is a wonderful young player. There is a point where he will get a breather but at the moment he is our main catalyst."

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