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Posts Tagged ‘Steven Gerrard’

• Manchester City manager and Liverpool captain argue
• Glen Johnson tackle on Joleon Lescott at issue

Manchester City’s second home defeat in four days ended in acrimony on Wednesday night as Steven Gerrard and Roberto Mancini argued in the tunnel. The Italian had asserted that Glen Johnson should have been sent off in the closing moments of the Carling Cup semi-final.

Gerrard, the Liverpool captain whose first-half penalty secured a 1-0 first-leg lead for Kenny Dalglish’s team, accused the City manager of double standards, for demanding a red card for Johnson having condemned Wayne Rooney for doing likewise before Vincent Kompany was sent off in the FA Cup defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.

Kompany’s absence was sorely felt by City as his replacement, Stefan Savic, conceded the decisive penalty with a foul on Daniel Agger. But it was Johnson’s late challenge on Joleon Lescott that provided controversy. The Liverpool defender won the ball with both feet off the floor, leaving the City manager aggrieved that the same letter-of-the-law interpretation that led Chris Foy to dismiss his captain on Sunday – and resulted in a four-game ban for Kompany – was not applied by Lee Mason.

Ironically Kompany, defending himself on Facebook before the game, had asked: “I wonder though if we are now going to see an unprecedented wave of red cards on match days because we sanction ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’?”

Gerrard denied Mancini’s complaints that Johnson’s tackle was more dangerous than the one committed on Nani by the City captain. “I don’t think so. It was a clear winner of the tackle,” said the Liverpool captain. “I’m surprised at Mancini. He had a go at Wayne Rooney last week for trying to get one of his players sent off. Now he’s trying to get one of our players in trouble. I don’t think that’s right.”

Gerrard aired his view directly to Mancini, who said: “It was worse, this tackle was worse. Johnson’s tackle was worse than the one Vinny did against United. Everyone can see this. It was worse. Gerrard came to me and said, ‘You said this.’ Gerrard can say what he wants. No problem. The world is going down because people do not apologise. I make a mistake and I apologise. I say what I think and it is not important what Steven Gerrard and other players say.”

City, having gone unbeaten at home in 2011, have lost twice in cup competitions in four days, with Liverpool becoming the first away team to keep a clean sheet here this season. Dalglish, who said he did not see Johnson’s challenge, said: “We gave two different performances in each half. In the first half we looked a lot more threatening but in the second, after getting the goal advantage, we just battened down the hatches. Not too many teams have come here and not had goals against them, so it’s a fantastic effort by us.

“It wasn’t the prettiest performance, but it didn’t fall short in terms of desire or commitment in any shape or form. Once we got ourselves in front, we were determined not to lose it. We might have a slight advantage with the goal, but there will be nobody jumping through hoops at our place. We’ll just be as professional as we can at our place.”

Mancini bemoaned a lack of cutting edge from a City team who missed the injured David Silva and saw Mario Balotelli limp off with a suspected ankle injury after 39 minutes. The City manager said: “The first half we didn’t play well. After six months that can happen. But in the second half Liverpool did not pass the middle of the pitch. We had chances but didn’t score but we knew before the game it would be difficult.

“It is difficult because we were without three or four players. The result is not right. For me it was a draw. We played two difficult games. I knew that was going to happen. January is going to be an important month but I think in both games we didn’t deserve to lose. The second leg is going to be difficult. Liverpool are favourites because they won 1-0 away.”

Gerrard echoed Dalglish’s view that the semi-final was finely poised for the second leg, at Anfield on 25 January.

“It is good to be back. I feel like a footballer again,” said Gerrard of his second successive start. “It’s games like this I have missed and games like this I have worked to get back so hard for. We defended well from back to front. We were playing one of the big powers in world football. There is no way this game is over yet and it is set up nicely for the game at Anfield.”

Carling Cup 2011-12LiverpoolManchester CitySteven GerrardRoberto ManciniCarling CupAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

• ‘I’ll be glad to see the back of 2011′
• Latest absence had been ‘absolute torture’

The Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, has admitted he will be glad to see the end of a year which has seen him sidelined with injuries for long periods.

Last season ended prematurely in March because of a groin problem which required surgery and his comeback in 2011-12 was delayed by an infection.

The England midfielder eventually made a return as a substitute in the Carling Cup second-round tie at Brighton in September but after only five appearances he picked up an ankle infection in late October which kept him out for two months.

Gerrard made his second comeback of the season in the draw with Blackburn on Boxing Day and is now looking forward to 2012.

“Without doubt I’ll be glad to see the back of 2011,” Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.

“It’s been tough but that’s all in the past now. We have got a massive game against Newcastle [on Friday] and we need to take care of that and finish this year on a high before we start thinking about next year.

“But I’m looking forward to 2012. There’s still so much to play for this season. If I can just get a bit of luck and stay fit hopefully I can really enjoy the final five months of the season.”

Gerrard said his latest lay-off had been “absolute torture”.

“It’s just great to be back involved again,” he added. When the surgeon said I would miss another eight weeks it took me weeks to get over the news. It was a freak injury and coming so soon after being out for so long with my groin it’s been absolute torture.

“I’ve just had to work so hard to get back again and now I’m looking forward to playing games. There have been a lot of lonely days in the gym this year when you struggle to motivate yourself.

“I have worked my socks off over the past eight weeks and I feel really good. I’m feeling in great condition and all I need now is minutes under my belt to get the sharpness back.”

Steven GerrardLiverpoolguardian.co.uk

• Midfielder is back after illness and injury
• Andy Carroll set to play against former club

Kenny Dalglish has warned against expecting too much, too soon from Steven Gerrard, who is back fit again and available to face Newcastle United for Liverpool at Anfield on Friday night.

“We could do with a few more goals, and Steven may be able to help us with that,” Dalglish said. “He’s got goals in him, as well as charisma, presence and everything else. But every player in the side is capable of scoring goals, we can’t just put it all on Steven’s shoulders. If we are going to be a one-man band we’ve no chance. Every single one of us is going to have to score a few more goals. There’s no magic formula.”

Liverpool have scored only 21 goals in 18 Premier League matches and have drawn six of their nine matches at Anfield. Their top scorer Luis Suárez, with five league goals, will miss the game after being banned for his one-fingered gesture to the crowd at Fulham this month, opening the door for Andy Carroll to play against his old club.

Gerrard has been out for a couple of months with a freak succession of strains and infections, but played for 20 minutes against Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day and according to his manager is in better shape than ever.

“He looks unbelievably fit at the moment,” Dalglish said. “I think he feels the bad luck might all be behind him now. He just needs game time but we won’t be irresponsible. We’ll just take it as diligently and professionally as we always do. There’s no need to throw him straight in. He’s not ready to last 90 minutes yet, and he’s experienced enough to recognise that. There’s no panic. We’d rather have him for the rest of the season than just a couple of games right away.”

Gerrard’s return against Blackburn lifted the spirits of the Anfield crowd, even if his efforts on the pitch were not quite as successful as he would have wished in terms of turning another home draw into a win. Ever the realist, Dalglish does not believe Liverpool’s results will automatically improve now their most celebrated player is back. “It’s great to have him playing again, but he’s never really been away from the club,” the Liverpool manager said. “He’s always in and around the club and the training ground anyway, just like Jamie Carragher. It’s a bit like having three captains at the moment [Pepé Reina has been wearing the armband in the absence of the other two], and that can only make us stronger.

“There’s no doubt that Steven has made a massive contribution to the success of this football club, and he’s managed to do it in a lot of the games that really meant something, but you don’t actually know how the season would have gone had he been playing. It might have been different, it might not.

“I just think it’s a great credit to the rest of the lads that they have done so well without Steven. We all know what a great player he is, and if we are already playing well without him it can only improve us when he returns.”

Dalglish added: “Our target for the new year is to build on the work that’s already been done. When you consider how far we have come since August, we are pretty pleased. I’m delighted to be back here, I was fortunate to be asked. I’m happy and I am working with great people. We could be higher in the table but apart from the one at Manchester City every manager in the Premier League would say the same