Post Match Reaction: Rodgers backs world-class Gerrard

Today's 0-0 draw against Sunderland ensured Liverpool dropped back a place to 9th, leapfrogged by Newcastle, with the half way point in the season just a few weeks away.

Brendan Rodgers Post Sunderland 0-0 draw

Brendan Rodgers however insisted that there were plenty of positives:

"The first half was a little slow in intensity.

"The second half was much better.

Fair point.  Liverpool had no shots on target in the first half but managed two in the second.

"Our intention was obviously to go and win the game. In the second half, we pressed the game much better and had enough pressure in the right areas but the ball wouldn't drop to us and we maybe needed a little bit of luck.

"It was a big effort by the players. They have given everything that they have in the last few weeks. They are giving their all. It was important that we kept a clean sheet.

"We're having to go back to the basics of our game, making sure that we're solid and hard to beat. It is two clean sheets in three games and seven points out of nine this week."

Despite spending £120M in the summer Rodgers insisted LFC fans shouldn't expect too much creativity.

"We're a different team to last year, with different players at the top end of the field. Guys like Rickie Lambert are giving their all and working very, very hard.

"The supporters are used to seeing goals and that creativity, but it's a different team with different players. We have to continue to work hard - and that's what the players are doing."

Rodgers was gushing in his praise of captain Steven Gerrard, telling Basel that the skipper will play on Tuesday night.

"There is no problem with that (rotated Gerrard) and we can't always solely rely on him. His talent is world-class, but the contribution has to come from around the team - it can't be up to him every single game to be the catalyst.

"He was excellent when he came on and, of course, he plays on Tuesday night. Stevie coming onto the field gives the world-class quality that the team needs and I thought he was brilliant when he came on.

"We have kept two clean sheets and taken seven points from nine. I can't ask any more from the players than what they did today.

Here's some of the final whistle reaction on twitter

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