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Bournemouth win shows how far Liverpool haved progressed -- Rodgers

The Reds boss is confident his side can recover in time for Tuesday’s Merseyside Derby.

BRENDAN RODGERS BELIEVES Liverpool’s ruthless FA Cup victory at Bournemouth demonstrates how far his side have come since last season’s shock exit at the hands of League One minnows Oldham.

Rodgers’ team claimed a place in the fifth round after safely negotiating a testing trip, eventually overcoming Eddie Howe’s battling Championship side 2-0 thanks to goals from Victor Moses and Daniel Sturridge yesterday.

It was a far cry from the tame performance Liverpool produced in their loss to Oldham at the same stage of the competition 12 months ago.

And Reds manager Rodgers believes the comparison between his side’s cup campaign this year and last term highlights the improvement amongst his squad.

“There have been lots of games recently that take me back to a year ago and there are games we might have lost a year ago,” Rodgers said.

“We are really improving not only in our football idea but also the character within the team. So we are showing a lot of good traits and the way we stepped up the tempo in the second half was very important.”

Rodgers fielded a strong side even though they face a crucial Merseyside derby against Everton in midweek and he believes the win justified his gamble.

“We have a very thin squad and we have had injuries,” Rodgers added. “But the tradition of the FA cup at Liverpool is huge and we want to pay respect to that and to the competition because we want to get to the final and win it if we can.

“So the players are fit enough, there is enough recovery time. They have everything to recover and we go into Tuesday’s game on the back of a good win.”

Reds centre-back Martin Skrtel suffered a badly cut head but should be fit to face Everton.

“Martin Skrtel had staples in his head so he might have to grow some hair now. He’ll be okay for Tuesday,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers also insisted he has not yet given up hope of making more signings before the transfer window shuts on Friday, despite seeing his top target, Mohamed Salah of Basel, snatched away by Chelsea.

“He was obviously a player we were interested in and we hoped we could do a deal but as of yet, there has been nothing done on it,” he said.

“The club is still looking at players we can bring in to strengthen. It’s a difficult market.

“The players have taken us this far already. They have been outstanding this season so we will enter into the last games with confidence if we have the same players.

“The window’s not closed yet so we haven’t given up.”

Rodgers also paid tribute to Bournemouth’s eye-catching passing game and the style of play they have developed under Howe, the highly-regarded 36-year-old Bournemouth manager.

“Bournemouth deserve credit for the way they play the game,” he said.

“Eddie Howe has a similar philosophy to myself and it’s not easy when you are a young manager to stick your head out and get your teams to pass the ball.

“In this country it’s deemed too nice. But that’s why we cry and complain we don’t have players who are technically good enough when we get to World Cups

“It is coaches like Eddie Howe who will take the game forward in this country.”

- © AFP, 2014

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    Mute D
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    Jan 26th 2014, 12:51 PM

    Have a day off Brendan and stop talking sh1te.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Jan 26th 2014, 1:08 PM

    The Journal are Trolling with that headline. They know it will bring out the Liverpool vs Man Utd crowd. Barely a day goes by now without some story relating to these teams to cause an argument.

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    Mute David Carino
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    Jan 26th 2014, 1:21 PM

    And here’s another one for you Begurdgy , Liverpool are chasing ‘another Spanish starlet ‘ at Atletico he’s is valued by them at 20m but Rogers thinks an offer of 12m will be enough . Does he never learn !!!!!
    Quite frankly I don’t think they have the money for players

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    Mute MarkMurph1
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    Jan 26th 2014, 1:49 PM

    BR is prone to the odd waffle, sure what harm, he’s talking the talk this season with what I’d believe to be a limited squad compared to Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Spurs. Whats more, Liverpool are now fourth and all four teams I have mentioned have to come to Anfield later on this season. Lets see how this ends up, eh?

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jan 26th 2014, 3:02 PM

    Team spirit is as important as the millions pumped into the 2 blue teams…. Sure its an uphill fight, but if they believe, there is no reason to believe they cannot keep pushing for 4th. Sure, Man U bought RVP, but it was the belief that they could win that got them through…. They have same team this year, just lacking that belief…. Who knows what can happen with them if that belief returns… Mata will help for sure. Rodgers is protecting his team, and keeps them believing…. Very powerful….

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Jan 26th 2014, 3:36 PM

    More worried what the boss thinks graham more like. Thought you would wise up by now can’t be honest about poor results or performance when the board want you in the top four and keeping up with the league leaders. If your honest more likely they sack ya and bring in a big name foreigner

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jan 26th 2014, 4:04 PM

    Bring in who? And back him financially? They are not going to do that. Its reality. Moyes will get backed for now too, given money, but he must buy wisely. He must bring in results, make CL…. Liverpool have been poor lately, but not losing. Unlucky against Man C and Chelsea for sure but they have been grinding results. Certainly an improvement on last few years, but still a long way to go. I see Rodgers seeing out his 3 years, after that depends on what he has achieved…. I hope the manager merry go round has stopped…. Have some stability….

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jan 26th 2014, 4:05 PM

    I am only the manager in football manager btw…. :)

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    Mute Mike Murphy
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    Jan 26th 2014, 7:47 PM

    Rodgers sees Liverpool as a stepping stone upwards. Wait till the Blackburn job cones up and he will take his opportunity with both hands

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    Mute Hibernicus Exule
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    Jan 27th 2014, 1:31 AM

    @ begrudgy very astute,even if rodgers is talking sh*te as usual :-)

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    Mute David Fitzmaurice
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    Jan 26th 2014, 1:31 PM

    I’m an LFC fan but by God is Rodgers a waffler of the highest order. He cannot keep his mouth closed. One idiotic comment followed by another. Getting tired of it and the club and Rodgers been linked to every player on the planet. The club doesn’t have two pennies to rub together and the Suarez pay deal was a business deal to cash in and deliver a huge profit which will go towards funding FSG and the whatever debts they have. He will be sold next summer. The club will never change.

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Jan 26th 2014, 3:32 PM

    That’s what happens when your under pressure to qualify for champions league ya have to start keeping spin on your performances Hughes did it at city moyes is at now and Benitez was long of it

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jan 26th 2014, 4:09 PM

    Spoddy, you making a mountain out of a molehill right now too?? You expect managers to castigate players?? Tell me the managers that have done that??

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    Mute Robert Collins
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    Jan 26th 2014, 1:06 PM

    He gets more embarrassing by the week

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    Mute Eliot Rosewater
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    Jan 26th 2014, 1:17 PM

    To be fair, this was the first time that Liverpool have ever beaten Bournemouth at the first attempt. So, the headline and Rogers’ comments are accurate.

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jan 26th 2014, 4:10 PM

    Bournemouth even ever beaten a big club in FA Cup??

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    Mute Róisín Connick
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    Jan 26th 2014, 1:12 PM

    Liverpool in the Rugby section?

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    Mute Martin Malone
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    Jan 26th 2014, 8:37 PM

    It has been a good season so far for Liverpool. It would be nice to hold on to 4th place.

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    Mute Mike Murphy
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    Jan 26th 2014, 7:45 PM

    They had a full team out against a poor championship side “look how far we have come” #Europa League next year girls

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    Mute Sam Beckett
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    Jan 26th 2014, 8:23 PM

    Keep hoping and hating!!

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