As the Reds prepare to take on a team with parallel
aspirations in the Barclays Premier League, manager Brendan Rodgers has
explained his plan to ensure Liverpool can compete.
The Reds are currently eight matches unbeaten in the league
and could close the gap behind Tottenham Hotspur to one point with a victory at
White Hart Lane on Wednesday.
Spurs invested heavily on players during the summer transfer
window following their fourth place finish in 2011-12, but Rodgers insists
there are other methods available to produce results.
Asked to elaborate on which of those avenues he will
explore, Rodgers pledged the club will maintain a combined policy of investing
in the best talent and developing young players.
The Northern Irishman said: "We're looking at a way of
working, trying to be different in our way of playing - can we develop young
players and bring them through?
"It's never easy as a youngster. You see some of the
teams now that have got injuries and have to play young players, and the
struggle it can be for them.
"It's been like that for a large part of the season for
us but we've got on with our work, and the young players that have come into
the squad have done fantastic.
"At Liverpool Football Club, you always want to be in
for the top players and the top talents. This is a club that will bring those
players here.
"A lot of players want to be in the Champions League so
if they want to come here, that's an area we want to arrive in the coming
years.
"We know we're not too far away - we're very close to
arriving in that zone. You only need to look at some of the things that have
gone against us this season, in terms of goals that were disallowed.
"If you take those points alone, that would have shot
us right up there. But we're just going to take care of our own game and keep
progressing. We know we have the qualities.
"If you go away to rivals and win then it can give you
great confidence. Our performance level away from home has got better
throughout the season. We know we can go there and win and that's what we'll
look to do."
The journey to London comes in the middle of a crucial week
for the Reds in the Premier League, and the manager wants his side to now start
converting draws into wins.
"It's a big game against a rival. Tottenham have been
up in that top four for the last few seasons and they have built their squad up
well over the last four or five years," continued the 39-year-old.
"It hasn't just been one transfer window, they've done
it over five six, seven transfer windows and it's left them a very strong
squad.
"They obviously lost [Luka] Modric in the summer, but
they've still got top players. It's going to be a difficult game but we've got
a great resilience and commitment at the minute.
"We're showing that in our league games. Our
consistency is starting to really show through. If we can just go that one step
further and turn some of these draws into wins, then it can really push us on
up the league."
Rodgers has introduced a new element to his team in recent
weeks, with defender Jose Enrique being pushed forward into an attacking role -
a move the manager believes suits all parties.
He reflected: "I think he's been outstanding and it's a
great credit to him. He and I spoke earlier on in the season about trying to
develop and improve his game.
"It's an interesting one because he's a real threat
going forward with his pace and his power. You could see in the last three
games how determined he is to get a goal.
"But you also see his defensive qualities because he's
tracking back. He's been a real plus for us and it's great to see because he's
worked very hard.
"It hasn't been easy for him but I think you've seen
his commitment. How he's been working every day, you're seeing that now on the
field.
"I'm delighted for him because he's good guy and he
wants to do well for this club.
"Jose played in that position early on in his career
but since he's come to this country he's played more as a full-back.
"You can see he's got the qualities to play the role -
he is an offensive player who has got great pace and power, can take people on
and he's a real threat when he gets into the final third.
"He's comfortable in the position, which is important,
and it gives us that great thrust at the top end of the field."
Liverpool were frustrated by a disallowed goal and the
crossbar during the 0-0 draw with Swansea on Sunday, but the manager is
confident that the whole team can begin to find the target.
"I've always stressed it's the team - everyone will
look to contribute. It's not been for the want of trying," said the boss.
"Our efforts on goal and shots on target in the
majority of the games have been very high. We are just looking to improve how
clinical we can be in those areas.
"At Swansea we had nine shots on target and didn't get
a goal, but we know that. We just need to continue to work well and find ways
to get the solution to that. That's what we'll do."
Source www.liverpoolfc.com
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