Liverpool prepare for life after Gerrard

LIVERPOOL, UK - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers braced supporters for a close-season rebuilding process after long-serving captain Steven Gerrard played his final home game for the club.

Gerrard, 34, declared himself "devastated" following Saturday's 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace at a sold-out Anfield and must now prepare for his last ever Liverpool appearance at Stoke City next weekend.

Gerrard's departure echoes that of his fellow stalwart Jamie Carragher, who bowed out in 2013, and with Luis Suarez still to be satisfactorily replaced following his move to Barcelona last year, Rodgers knows there is a pressing need to bolster his squad.

Asked if it would be possible to replace Gerrard -- who joins the Los Angeles Galaxy in July -- with one player, Rodgers told his post-match press conference: "I dont think there is that.

"He is a player and a person who is irreplaceable for the club. What he's given over his time here and the standards he's set are second to none.

"We'll go forward at the end of the season and we'll have to plot a way to improve in the summer. That's our challenge."

Having pushed Manchester City all the way in last season's title race, Liverpool have slipped back in 2014-15 and are yet to secure even the consolation of a Europa League place after missing out on a Champions League berth.

But asked if he felt optimistic about the future, Rodgers replied: "We have to (be).

"In my time here, we've lost a couple of players with 700-odd games for the club in Jamie Carragher (737) and Steven Gerrard (709).

"Those two guys have been monumental players for the club, so losing both of those is a big blow. Throw in a world-class player like Luis Suarez, and of course it's difficult.

"This year has been very difficult for us in many aspects. But the players have given everything they possibly can and hopefully in the summer we can add that quality that the group clearly needs and take the opportunity next year."

- Pardew targets top eight -

Should Liverpool falter again next season, they should not necessarily expect Gerrard to appear on a white charger.

There is a feeling that Gerrard could return to Anfield on loan -- following the examples of David Beckham and Thierry Henry during their stints in Major League Soccer -- but he told the BBC that he would only consider returning in an "emergency situation".

Rodgers's side took a 26th-minute lead when Adam Lallana seized on a misplaced pass from former Liverpool player Martin Kelly before beating Wayne Hennessey.

But Palace equalised through Jason Puncheon's free-kick just before half-time and second-half goals from substitutes Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray secured a first league win at Anfield since November 1991.

Rodgers complained with justification that Zaha had been offside when he tapped in Yannick Bolasie's low cross on the hour and that the foul on Zaha by Lucas Leiva that led to Murray's stoppage-time penalty had occurred outside the box.

But he also conceded that his side had been "punished" for committing "poor defensive errors".

Former Palace midfielder Alan Pardew has rejuvenated the club since returning as manager in January and he hopes that performances such as Saturday's win will help the club make transformative signings.

"For the chairman (Steve Parish) and the board, it must be quite exciting," said Pardew, whose side had lost their four previous games.

"We're in a good position financially. Put two or three quality players into that group and we could attack the top eight, top 10.

"I want to be knocking on (Parish's) door. He's been receptive to my opinions. It's still difficult to get quality players through the door, and I think today's performance will have helped us.

"Players abroad can see we've produced performances against top teams. Now we need that little bit of extra quality. Hopefully we've shown players in Europe that they can come here and have a great future."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Chelsea held in Bridge storm, five-star City cut gap

LONDON - Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Burnley as rivals Manchester City thrashed Newcastle United 5-0 to leave Jose Mourinho smoldering with rage after the title race was injected with new life on Saturday.

Leaders Chelsea offered a chink of light to City after a stormy game at Stamford Bridge where Nemanja Matic was sent off for retaliating to an awful challenge from Burnley's Ashley Barnes and the hosts were denied two strong penalty claims.

City made the most of their lifeline, emphatically exposing Newcastle's failings with two goals from David Silva among the highlights of a crushing victory that reduced their deficit at the top of the Premier League to five points.

It was another ominous display from second-placed City who have scored nine goals in their last two games and look back to their very best.

SIMMERING MOURINHO

In typical fashion, all of Saturday's action, that included a 2-1 win for Arsenal at Crystal Palace and defeat for Manchester United at Swansea City by the same scoreline, was largely overshadowed by the simmering Mourinho.

It began so brightly for Chelsea as Branislav Ivanovic's knack of scoring crucial goals looked to have set the hosts on the way to a routine win after 14 minutes.

Then an Ivanovic shot struck Michael Kightly's arm and Diego Costa was pushed over by Jason Shackell but both penalty appeals were waved away by referee Martin Atkinson who then became public enemy number one.

Barnes flew into an ugly challenge on Matic, catching the Serbian enforcer on the shin. The Burnley player escaped without a booking while Matic, who chased the striker before throwing him to the floor, was dismissed with 20 minutes left.

Any sense of injustice may have been mitigated had the home side clung on but Ben Mee rose to power in a header at the back post and Mourinho was left to seethe.

"I am punished when I refer to these situations and I don't want to be punished," he told the BBC.

His mood would not have improved when Manchester City took the lead in Saturday's late game after two minutes, with Sergio Aguero coolly converting from the spot.

Samir Nasri fired into the roof of the net for the second and Edin Dzeko, felled for the penalty, added a third after being fed by Silva.

The Spanish playmaker then scored twice in three minutes at the start of the second half.

SWANSEA DOUBLE

Manchester United will be sick of the sight of Swansea who completed the double over Louis van Gaal's side, having also won on the opening day of the season.

There was an element of role reversal at the Liberty Stadium where United, who have frequently this season played poorly and still won, dominated but were undone when Bafetimbi Gomis deflected in Jonjo Shelvey's long-range strike for Swansea.

United, who took the lead through Ander Herrera before Ki Sung-Yueng levelled, slipped to fourth, 13 points off the top, after only their second defeat in 20 games.

They are a point adrift of Arsenal who made it five league wins out of six by beating Palace.

A Santi Cazorla penalty and an eighth league goal of the season for Olivier Giroud allowed Arsene Wenger's side to survive a late scare when Glenn Murray reduced the deficit in stoppage time.

Tim Sherwood's first match as Aston Villa manager ended in disappointment as his new charges squandered a first-half lead to lose 2-1 at home to Stoke City who scored an injury-time penalty from Victor Moses to snatch the points.

At the bottom of the table Hull City moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers who had midfielder Joey Barton sent off in the first half.

Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion drew 0-0.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com