English Premier League: Rodgers in the spotlight as Reds host Gunners in feisty encounter

Wenger extends support to Northern Irishman as rivals clash at Anfield

LONDON: Two managers, for whom criticism has become an unwelcome bedfellow this season, face off in the Premier League today when Arsene Wenger's Arsenal tackle Brendan Rodgers's Liverpool at Anfield. 

Arsenal's confidence has been improved by back-to-back 4-1 wins over Galatasaray and Newcastle United, but it was only two weeks ago that Wenger was barracked by fans of his own club following a 3-2 loss at Stoke City.

Rodgers, meanwhile, is under real scrutiny for the first time in his Liverpool tenure following a return of just two wins from eight league matches.

Last weekend's chastening 3-0 defeat at Manchester United left last season's runners-up in 11th place, seven points below the Champions League places and a yawning 18 points behind leaders Chelsea.

Rodgers became a surprisingly taciturn figure in his pre-game briefing, giving journalists only four and a half minutes of his time and responding to their questions curtly.

But the Northern Irishman did become animated when asked to discuss the form of Raheem Sterling, who scored twice as Liverpool beat Championship leaders Bournemouth 3-1 in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

"The kid has been fantastic wherever he's played this season. He was outstanding the other night (against Bournemouth)," said Rodgers.

"It's been incredible how he has coped with the stick he has received as people have been trying to criticise him and put the focus on to him.”

Rodgers can draw solace from the fact that his team destroyed Arsenal 5-1 when Wenger's side last came to Anfield in February, plundering four goals in a devastating 20-minute spell at the start of the game.

The highs of last spring now seem a distant memory, but Wenger, who has been at the Arsenal helm for 18 years, believes it will only be a matter of time before Rodgers's side start climbing the table again.

"I've sympathy for every single manager in the Premier League. Everybody goes through periods where it goes a bit less well," said the Frenchman.

"Part of our job is to survive crises. When you want to make a long career, you cannot only win, unfortunately."

City win but Chelsea still on top

Manchester City came close to leading the Premier League table yesterday but fell short by one goal as they overpowered Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side, playing without a striker, missed a host of chances during the first-half against a spirited Palace side, but the Premier League champion’s dominance eventually paid off as David Silva helped himself to two second-half goals, before Toure rounded things off in the 81st minute.

Palace’s James McArthur had a header wrongly ruled out for offside, which was the closest that the visitors came on goal, but that was it as the home side ran out comfortable winners in their search for a fourth goal which would have sent them top of the league on goal difference.

Today’s fixtures

Newcastle v Sunderland

Liverpool v Arsenal

 

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