Gerrard was applauded off on his final visit to the Stamford Bridge but the Liverpool skipper was less than impressed with the treatment he received during the match. PHOTO: AFP
There was less than a minute on the clock at Stamford Bridge on Sunday when Fabregas caught Sterling on the ankle with a high, sliding challenge, for which he was booked by referee Andre Marriner.
Rodgers felt the game might have panned out differently had Fabregas — who set up John Terry’s opener — been sent for an early bath.
“Fabregas should have been sent off — he was out of control, diving, stretching,” said the Northern Irishman, whose side trail fourth-placed Manchester United by six points with two games to go. “It was early in the game, but it doesn’t matter. It was a bad challenge and he deserved a red card.”
While Liverpool’s thoughts will now turn to Saturday’s home game with Crystal Palace, when Gerrard will play at Anfield for the final time, Rodgers called on owners Fenway Sports Group to help bring in new players into the side.
The manager does not believe failing to qualify for next year’s Champions League will make it more difficult for the club to attract new talent. “It would have been [difficult] whether we were in it or not,” he said. “We know the areas where we need to strengthen the squad, and hopefully we can do that. If we want to take the next step, we need to find the right acquisitions in the summer.”
Chelsea had already secured the title by beating Palace the previous weekend and manager Jose Mourinho looked to the future against Liverpool by awarding a full debut to 19-year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
“He’s going to be a Chelsea player, there’s no doubt,” said the Portuguese. “We have other kids that I also believe can do that.”
Another young player, French centre-back Kurt Zouma, was forced off by injury after 34 minutes and Mourinho revealed that he had hurt his knee.
Chelsea’s fans granted Gerrard a standing ovation when he left the field in the 79th minute. The former England captain was goaded throughout the game, with Chelsea’s supporters eager to remind him of his costly slip from the teams’ encounter at Anfield last season.
Gerrard complained in a television interview afterwards that he had been ‘slaughtered’, but Mourinho felt the jeers were underpinned by affection.
“The negative song only shows respect. Nothing else than respect,” said the Portuguese. “It’s like a negative song to a dear enemy. The standing applause was special. Stamford Bridge was special.”
The 52-year-old once again praised the former England midfielder. “Steve gets that for almost two decades, every week when he plays at Anfield,” he said. “But to get that in an away stadium is a fantastic way for him to feel that probably every club, every stadium in this country respects him a lot.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2015.
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