Liverpool’s tame loss to Crystal Palace in veteran midfielder Steven Gerrard’s final appearance at Anfield not only highlighted once again the massive confidence problem currently damaging the squad, it also served to showcase the lack of leadership on the field — something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by boss Brendan Rodgers.
“That’s what we have to find – the answers to that. You have to find the solutions. It is an incredible lot of experience, game management and quality gone out of the team but it is something we will find I am sure,” explained the Northern Irishman following yesterday’s disappointing performance. “Stevie has a huge influence in the changing room and a star quality. Of course it is something that will be missed, but if you want to be the big player at a club like this you have to step up and make the contribution in the big games. That is the idea next season. I am sure that will be the case.”
Rodgers has called on the owners to spend big and sign even bigger this summer with the Reds young, promising squad needing proven, quality players to both help balance things out, but also to help the team develop. One only needs to look to our problems in front of net this season to see what a difference having a world class striker in the squad makes.
“Listen, I can understand the supporters’ frustration this season when you think of the journey we were on last year. The quality of the football and the game they were watching has not been there this season,” continued the manager. “As a supporter you want to turn up and see the team win and win well and at times that has not been the case. It is a big challenge for us so from a manager’s perspective there is a sense of reality in what we lost but rightly so the supporters want to see the team improving. That’s our job in the summer to replace and find the players who will make the difference.”
