Rodgers: ‘We deserved nothing’

Rodgers: We deserved nothing

Dec 27, 2012 12:45:00 AM

The Liverpool boss lamented his team’s poor defensive display in the wake of their 3-1 defeat to Stoke, but heaped praise on Tony Pulis’ "terrific" side

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that his side “deserved nothing” after losing 3-1 to an impressive Stoke side at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Reds went a goal up in the early stages of the match through a Steven Gerrard penalty after Luis Suarez was brought down in the box by Ryan Shawcross. But the Potters soon equalised, and went on to take a two-goal lead, thanks to a Jonathan Walters double and a fine header from Kenwyne Jones.

And Rodgers has expressed his disappointment at the nature of the goals his team conceded, explaining that his side must defend better if they are to take points away from such matches.

“It was a great start for us, getting our first penalty, but we just gave away poor goals tonight,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think all three goals were actually quite straightforward to defend. A direct ball, and obviously Martin Skrtel slips, which was unfortunate.

	STOKING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FLAMES
100/1	Stoke are 100/1 with William Hill to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season

“The other two goals, we've got to be much better than that. That was a disappointment really. We got into some good areas but ultimately, when you come to places like this, it's a difficult place to come and you've got to defend better or else you'll get nothing.

“We deserved nothing because of that.”

However, the former Swansea manager also moved to praise Tony Pulis and his Stoke side, who are now unbeaten in their last nine matches.

“They [Stoke] probably don't quite get the credit they deserve and Tony's done a brilliant job here in keeping them in this division and progressing,” he added.

“They've got some terrific players and they do what they do very well. But from our perspective it was poor defending.”

Inside Goal.Com

Nigerians Abroad - Year in Review: Spain & Portugal
Goal begin their annual reports on Super Eagles stars overseas by focusing on those players plying their trade on the Iberian Peninsula; Spain and Portugal
Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
Like Owomoyela, like Sam
The German-Nigerian has been put in the dicey position of having to decide his international future after J Loew called him up last week
'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'
Mario Gotze's injury means the playmaker has now played his final game for Borussia Dortmund. In an open letter, a fan tells of his emotion at his controversial switch to Bayern
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way

Goal.com