Brendan Rodgers admitted that Liverpool FC deserve to lose after the display they put on at KC Stadium against Hull City.
The Northern Irishman was left disappointed after Michael Dawson’s first half header was enough to seal the three points for the home side fighting the battle to be dropped to the second division in the summer. The former Tottenham centre-back rose unmarked to send the ball in the back of the net in the 37th minutes from Ahmed Elmohamadya s cross. Liverpool’s defending for the goal was atrocious as despite an inevitable cross in the looming, there was nobody doing any marking in the box.
Rodgers said, after the game, a We’re disappointed with the goal we conceded, we didn’t defend it well enough. We had enough of the game, between the boxes we were OK, but in that final third we just couldn’t make that breakthrough.”
Liverpool didn’t do much in the attracking third throughout the game and the closest they went through was in the first half through Philippe Coutinho and in the second half through Jordan Henderson.
Liverpool somehow are still in the fifth place, seven points short of fourth-placed Manchester United, and with this loss, they have no reason to be putting pressure on the Red Devils.
Rodgers insisted that his side deserved to lose and the problem of the season – lack of scoring and penetration – were visible on the night.
a We didn’t look like scoring really, to be honest,a Rodgers said. a We had some good moments, and had enough of the ball, but we never really threatened the goal.
a I think the confidence is OK. They work well in training, and you can see the way they can knit the game together. You have to have confidence to get on the ball and play for the majority of the game.
a But it is just having that reference, or two or three references, at the top end of the field. That gives the other players confidence and movement to create opportunities.
a The players put great energy into the game, they worked very hard, but our struggles tonight were what they have been for the majority of the season, in terms of creativity and scoring goals.a
Rodgers, for whom pressure is piling on with every game and every dropped point, said that the challenge is much greater without Suarez and Sturridge.
He reiterated after the loss, the need for the club to go after marquee players – one or two – in the summer as both the supporters and the players will benefit with such personnel in the squad.
And he reiterated that here, stating that he would ideally like the club to target a marqueea players in the transfer market.
a For supporters, and for players themselves, it is always great if you can get in those marquee players that can really help you,a he said.
a And I think we can see that that’s the type, maybe the one or two players, that we need.
a The club are working very hard, and the owners will support that. If they are attainable, and affordable within the model, the club will do everything they can to get them.a