Brendan Rodgers held his traditional Friday press-conference at Melwood today, ahead of tomorrow’s clash with West Ham at Anfield.
Having won two and drawn one of our first three fixtures, the manager knows that a win tomorrow will see us go into the international break happy – but the fixture was at first ignored by reporters desperate for answers on Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli.
The first is set to leave on loan to Turkey, although Rodgers is adamant he’ll return and contribute at Liverpool one day, while Balotelli has joined Milan on loan.
The manager went on to laud Joe Gomez, before claiming that the match versus Slaven Bilic’s Irons will be the toughest of the season yet.
Finally, he confirmed that we won’t be signing anybody on deadline day.
James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo live-tweeted Rodgers’ most interesting quotes.
On Markovic:
Rodgers: “Markovic still has a future here.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On Balotelli:
Rodgers on Balotelli: “It’s a good move for Mario. He goes to play and gets a season of playing football in his homeland.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On Sturridge:
Rodgers on Sturridge: “There is no timeline. He’s come back from America. He looks well. We will take it week on week. There’s no pressure.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On West Ham:
Rodgers: “West Ham at home will be our toughest game of the four. They had an excellent result away (at Arsenal).”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On Gomez:
Rodgers on Gomez: “I think there is a lot more to come from him. He’s probably playing in his 3rd best position in back four. He’s a CB.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
Rodgers: “Joe is a wonderful athlete and has also got a very good football brain. He has a very good personality, very humble.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On new impetus:
Rodgers: “The hunger has returned back into the team. That freshness and ability to play with no fear. New players here with new ambition.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
Rodgers: “There’s been a lot of work done on the training ground and in analysing in this room to change the mentality.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On Clyne:
Rodgers: “Clyne has been outstanding. He’s the best English right-back. He has slotted in with so much ease. He wants to improve himself.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On Lucas:
Rodgers on Lucas: “He brings a lot of experience. He came in the other night and did very well. He pressed the game well.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On defending:
Rodgers: “We are doing extra sessions on every aspect of our defending. We are putting in an awful lot of work.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
On deadline day:
Rodgers tells Sky: “You won’t need to be set up around here on deadline day. We’ll be quiet.”
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 28, 2015
SEE MORE:
Editor’s column: Why loaning Lazar Markovic out is stupid and damaging
Liverpool fans furious at Markovic loan decision, react on Twitter