Brendan Rodgers gave updates as journalists posed questions ahead of the 223rd Merseyside derby.
Everton visit Anfield early Saturday afternoon as both sides seek to end their disappointing openings to the 2014-15 campaign. Liverpool have won 2 and lost 3, while the Toffees have just one win, two draws and two defeats against their name.
The blues lost in the League Cup to Swansea midweek - the reds next opponents in the competition.
- Brendan Rodgers takes training ahead of the Merseyside derby
Sterling - Madrid
The reds are desperate to break out of the up and down cycle of their season and avoid a third straight league defeat.
A report in the Daily Mirror by Arsenal supporter John Cross linked young Raheem with a move to Real Madrid shortly after Liverpool's League Cup penalty victory. The press wasted no time in asking Brendan about the future of the talented youngster:
'I think it shows that he is playing very well. You could link him with every club in the world. I sit easy with the speculation. Him and his representatives know how comfortable he is here.
'At some point in the future he will be rewarded for his performance but he still has three years left on his contract. There is no rush. He had a breather against Aston Villa. He is a super-fit boy and he will be there at the weekend against Everton.'
Rodgers emphasised that the results in the League so far had been disappointing but looked for some positives - noting that in the corresponding fixtures last season Liverpool had only gathered 7 points - a mere point more than this time around. He was asked if the addition of the Champions League was to blame.
There is an adjustment but it's not a distraction. We embrace it. We have lost influential players to how we play so I will be looking forward to the next international break with our full squad.
Daniel Sturridge is back training but Rodgers was relatively downbeat on his chances for the derby. Although Daniel is not too far away the boss stated that 'he definitely isn't match fit' - this suggests that even if he can get on the bench he will be limited to a brief cameo.
Suso, one of the midweek goalscorers, also received some praise from the boss. The Liverpool manager added that the Spaniard is currently involved in contract discussions with the club.
Liverpool v Everton kicks off at 12:45pm on Saturday.
Glad to hear they’re in negotiations with Suso (assuming that’s true, and he hasn’t already agreed a contract with AC Milan). He needs more game time, he’s a great talent and should be kept.
This is the exact word’s Brendan said in his interview so it must be true about the kid suso
Really??? Direct BR quotes;
Regarding Balotelli – “I can categorically say Mario will not be at Liverpool”
Regarding Valdes rumours – “That’s the first i’ve heard” – yet they’re still about, in the major sports news too, not just random websites