Liverpool take three points without Suarez

Gerrard wants team to push for Champions League qualification.

LONDON:

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Jonjo Shelvey’s impressive display in the 3-2 win over West Ham proves his side can thrive without Luis Suarez.

Rodgers, whose squad is short of recognised senior forwards, responded to Suarez’s feared absence by pushing Shelvey into a more attacking role from his normal berth in midfield, and the 20-year-old rewarded the gamble with an influential performance.

“Shelvey was outstanding,” said Rodgers. “You see there are two different ways in which you can play the number nine role. And it was great credit to Shelvey because there was a lot of pressure on him. He is only 20 years old and has a big future ahead of him.”

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard believes the next four weeks could define Liverpool’s season as they try to qualify for the Champions League.



“We’re building slowly towards where we want to be,” said Gerrard. “We’ve got two home games now against Aston Villa and Fulham. If we can capitalise and make it 12 points out of 12 then we will find ourselves a lot closer to fourth. It’s a platform to build on.”

Spurs coach rues late goals

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas is used to seeing his team concede late goals but Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Everton, where the home side scored twice at the death, was hard for the Portuguese to swallow.

Spurs have kept a clean sheet only once away from home this season, a 3-0 win at Fulham earlier this month, and have conceded 10 of their 25 goals in the last 10 minutes of games.

“It’s difficult to take,” said Villas-Boas. “The last minutes were our best with Clint’s goal and we kept the ball and played well, but then the game changed completely against the run of play.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2012.