With Steven Gerrard’s departure at the end of the year coupling with the news that long standing Liverpool target Xherdan Shaqiri has snubbed a move to Merseyside to put down roots in Milan, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted that the club will need to do better in their efforts to attract big name players.
“Some of our top players have gone out and nobody has noticed it more than me. “But I do want to work with this level of player” explained the Northern Irishman yesterday. “I enjoy equally working with the stars and world-class talent as much as I do with the young players. This is Liverpool and we have to be in the running for the best players.”
Over the past two years, the Anfield outfit have not only missed out on a whole managerie of top talent, but they’ve seen the likes of Jamie Carragher and Luis Suarez leave the club. Their replacements have often been young, gifted players who have taken some time to bed in, but we’ve also seen more established players — like Mario Balotelli and Dejan Lovren — move to Merseyside and fail to make the grade. Despite that, with Gerrard set to leave for Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy when his contract expires at the end of June, Rodgers has called on the club to bring in more house hold names.
“I understand that [big players did not come to Liverpool] and it has been true over a number of years. Some people prefer to go to Spain, others to London but we will keep working to get the players” he continued. “We have to believe that the status of this club and the idea that it is moving forward is a challenge players will want to take on. The players may have changed but the great name of Liverpool hasn’t changed. If we can keep moving forward and if we are in the Champions League next season, we will still be a big attraction.”
