Rodgers - a 'near-perfect away performance'

Brendan Rodgers will not give up hope in the Europa League despite Liverpool's 2-0 defeat in their first-leg against Zenit St Petersburg.

Last Updated: 14/02/13 at 21:03 Post Comment

Second-half goals from Hulk and Sergei Semak put the Russian side in a commanding position going into next week's return leg at Anfield.

But Rodgers told ITV4: "If we can be solid defensively as a group, we know we can create the chances to score.

"The next goal is vital for us, if we get the next goal it opens up the tie.

"We're very disappointed to have lost the game. After that opening spell, when they had too much space, I thought it was a near-on perfect away performance.

"We had chances to score and should have been in front, and we were defensively solid. So to concede the two goals in the last 20 minutes, especially the second one, was disappointing."

The bulk of those chances fell to Luis Suarez, who failed to convert an early one-on-one chance after Nicolas Lombaerts' error and also backheeled wide from inside the six-yard box.

"He could have had a hat-trick by half-time," Rodgers said.

"It just wasn't his night but he's been brilliant for us all season.

"The important thing is that after his first one-on-one, he kept going and was still in there."

This is absolute nonsense. I suspect that he has bite marks on his knuckles this morning after he read his own comments back. What a load of tosh. We lost. It was far from perfect. Can you imagine Paisley, Shankley or even Ferguson saying this after such a performance. Shut up, you are embarrassing the Liverpool family.
- duffy kydd

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

T

he day Tonys hat goes missing for some bantz will be different story altogether..

TheBrestEver
Stoke probe 'banter gone wild'

I

m starting to think Roman may never actually be happy at the top level. If he wants all conquering fancy football I wonder if he'd be better off buying a lower division side then paying outlandish salaries to attract high caliber players too good for the division.

john matrix
The Most Unsatisfying European Victory...

R

afa has to be favourite for the Everton job now, surely :) He'll realise his ambition to live and work on Merseyside again, get the best out of whoever plays for them, maybe win some cups and be thoroughly loathed by the toffee fans. What's not to like? Go ead, Ken, gimajob!

captbusby
Benitez basks in final glory

Footer 365

Saints finish third, Celtic romp

St Johnstone claimed third spot in the SPL - and a Europa League berth - after a 2-0 win over Motherwell, while Celtic beat Dundee United 4-0.

League One play-off final: Yeovil beat Brentford 2-1 at Wembley

Yeovil beat Brentford 2-1 in the League One play-off final at Wembley to reach the Championship for the first time.

Tevez open to Ligue 1 move

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez admits he would be open to a move to either Monaco or Paris Saint Germain in the summer.

Mail Box

James Collins Is Only 29. Tough Paper Round

He is one of a number of solid shouts for players that look old before their time. We also have the final words on lovely D-Beck and a rejection of end of season playoffs...

Without Posh, Becks Could Have Been Scholes

That's one opinion, but others give their thanks to the man. We also have ideas for a relegation playoff, happy memories of the season and a defence of Liverpool's campaign...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved