Rodgers: We'll Reinforce Again In January

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping to maintain his side's impressive start to the Premier League campaign until Christmas, and will strengthen the Merseyside club's prospective title challenge with the addition of new signings in January, reports the Daily Mirror.

The Reds boss has plenty of reason for optimism in 2013/14 following a series of solid early season performances, as the club tasted defeat in the league for the first time last weekend after a 1-0 loss to Southampton at Anfield.

With 10 points from the opening five games, Liverpool are currently well-placed in fifth, and ahead of Sunday's trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, Rodgers has challenged his players to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

"The players have made an excellent start," said the Northern Irishman. "We were disappointed at the weekend, we were a bit flat and subdued and just couldn't really get going.

"Part of that was because of the players we have available, but I know that the players I have given absolutely everything."

After three victories from the opening three games, Liverpool have now gone three games without a win in all competitions following a 2-2 draw away at Swansea, defeat against Southampton, and last night's Capital One Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United after a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford.

However, Rodgers remains upbeat, and is hopeful of putting together a good run of results with the help of the recently returned Luis Suarez, who made his first appearance following a 10-game ban on Wednesday evening.

"Now we can only concentrate on the league through to Christmas," he explained. "We have to make sure we stay up in the top six in the league and keep fighting.

"Hopefully we can reinforce again in January."

Liverpool To Make Offer For Midfielder In January

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to be reunited with Gylfi Sugurdsson and is ready to make a formal approach for the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder in January.

Rodgers brought Sigurdsson back to the Premier League when he signed the midfielder on a short term loan for Swansea City and was again interested in signing him when he became the Liverpool manager in the summer of 2012.

Sigurdsson excelled during his time at Swansea and after deciding to leave Hoffenheim, was eventually persuaded to ignore a possible reunion with Rodgers in favour of moving to Tottenham.

The 24 year old had a mixed first season as he made some 49 appearances in all competitions, but he struggled to convince Andre Villas-Boas that he deserved regular starts and would feature in 27 games as a substitute.

Sigurdsson has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, scoring both goals in the 2-0 win over Norwich, but there is stiff competition for places after Spurs invested heavily throughout the summer.

The Liverpool Echo reports that Rodgers is keen to take advantage of that competition for places by offering Sigurdsson a possible exit in January.

Tottenham paid £8.8m for the Iceland international in the summer of 2012 and it remains to be seen whether Villas-Boas would be prepared to allow the midfielder to leave.

"It remains unclear whether Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will want to sell but business is business," a Spurs source is quoted as saying in the Echo. "Whatever he sells Gylfi for, there will be a decent mark-up."

Sigurdsson garnered a reputation for scoring goals from midfield having fired 17 for Reading in the Championship back in the 2009-10 season, while his return of seven goals in 18 league games for Swansea was equally impressive.

Liverpool have struggled for goals this season with just Daniel Sturridge and Victor Moses getting on the scoresheet in league action, and Rodgers may feel that Sigurdsson will help address this problem in January.

Liverpool Should Sign Carlton Cole

I appreciate that many people wouldn't like to class Carlton Cole among the Premier League greats but he is one of these players who has received an unfair criticism in his playing career.

Emile Heskey is somebody else with a similar style who has faced taunts for his non-prolific goalscoring record.

The fact is, neither of these players would have played as many games as they have in the Premier League if they weren't good strikers, let alone for England where Cole, under stiff competition, has played seven times.

The 29-year-old has received some negative press in recent weeks for his poor fitness which is holding up a return to the club that released him in the summer, West Ham United.

Sam Allardyce has clearly realized his mistake in not offering the striker a new deal at Upton Park.

The reason for not being offered more years was probably because the Hammers signed Andy Carroll before his injury, from Liverpool, which I think was another bad decision by The Reds.

He also struggled last year bagging only two Premier League goals.

However, Remember that saying: 'form is temporary, class is permanent.' Lest we forget that Manchester United and Liverpool were linked with a £20 million move for the powerful hitman just four years ago.

So why should Brendan Rodgers buy the former Chelsea youngster now? Quite simply, in the last three games Rodgers' side has lacked ideas going forward.

The sale of Carroll means the Anfield outfit no longer has a target-man. The fluent style of play employed under the Northern Irish manager may be attractive but they need to have another plan when it isn't working.

Luis Suarez's return is a massive boost but is he unlikely to win headers in the air against tall centre-backs when the nice passing has failed.

Swansea and Southampton in particular have rattled them recently and sometimes it looks as though they need a release, somebody who can win an aerial battle, hold up the ball and let the more creative players get the ball facing goal rather than their back to it.

Step up Carlton Cole the potential Kop saviour. And what's even better- he's free.

I'm not suggesting at all that he be a long term solution and shouldn't necessarily start ahead of Suarez or Daniel Sturridge but he would be a great option from the bench for the rest of this season if he can sort out fitness doubts, where Carroll was probably to expensive to leave on the bench, there wouldn't be the same problem in this case and the former Chelsea man is probably desperate to impress for a big club again.

How good a team can you be of you haven't got a varied squad, a squad for all conditions if you like.

Manchester United have got variety up front along with Tottenham Hotspur, as have Chelsea with the likes of Demba Ba, Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres, Arsenal probably wish they had more as well.

Even Barcelona who are the original passing masterminds have started to go more direct and for the Premier League against physical centre-backs, its vital.

People will still laugh off the man with nearly 300 career appearances but considering I’m biasing this article on his hold-up play and ability to bully defenders- he doesn't actually have a bad goalscoring record.

He managed 15 goals in the 2011/12 campaign and that was at West Ham, just imagine what he could potentially do with the better service from better, more creative players at Liverpool.

There's almost no chance of a move to Liverpool happening but it wouldn't be the worst decision in the world.

Remember in 2000 when Liverpool was laughed at for signing Gary McAllister? That turned out to be one of the most inspirational short term signings ever one year and five trophies later.

Liverpool Cast Gaze On Keita Balde Diao

Premier League hopefuls Liverpool could be making a move as soon as January for Lazio’s teenage goal-getter Keita Balde Diao.

The Merseyside club sent scouts to watch the exciting 18-year-old play in Rome after he joined Serie A from Barcelona in 2011.

Sky Sports Italia reported scouts from Brendan Rodgers’ side were checking out the forward from the stands during Lazio’s 1-0 win against Legia Warsaw in the Europa League last week.

They will have been impressed as the Spanish-born Senegal player proved to have a winning touch providing the assist for the game’s sole goal.

Diao was signed for only £250,000 from the Catalan giants – his contract with Lazio runs until 2017 and the club is understood to be willing to sell the prospect for a reasonable fee.

Rodgers is known to be keen on reinforcing his striking options with only Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as his main forwards.

Wisdom Seeks Loan Move Away

Liverpool full-back Andre Wisdom is on the lookout for a loan move in a bid to further his career.

The 20-year-old broke into the first team last season and made 12 league starts but he has found opportunities limited this time around.

Despite Glen Johnson missing through injury Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has preferred to try Kolo Toure and Martin Kelly at right-back.

Wisdom is still highly rated at Anfield but admits he may look elsewhere for the time being with Championship side Wigan rumoured to be interested.

He told the club's official website: "We've signed a few more defenders and it's obviously going to be harder to get a spot in the team.

"But I've been given some time to play - it's appreciated and it has been good.

"Obviously I need experience - I need more games because I'm still learning.

"Maybe if I am to go on loan and get that experience I need, I can try to be a key player in the team."

Lucas Back In The Picture For Brazil

After nearly two years out of the Brazilian national team following injury and a coaching change, Lucas Leiva has been called up for the Selecao's October friendlies against South Korea and Zambia.

Having installed himself as one of the first names on Mano Menezes' teamsheet, a season ending injury while on top form and Brazil changing coaches while he sat on the sidelines recovering had put Lucas' hopes of taking part in next summer's World Cup in serious doubt.

Felipe Scolari's history of sticking with a settled lineup as much as possible left his chances looking even more bleak with the new national team manager appearing to have already decided on his likely squad—one that Lucas didn't appear all that close to being in contention for.

Today that all may have changed, with the player's World Cup hopes given new life by a call to participate a pair of friendlies against South Korea and Zambia during October's international break.

"Today the felling is [like] when I got my first call to play for Brazil," said Liverpool's defensive midfielder, adding that he is "very happy to have this opportunity to represent my country again."

It's a welcome return to the national team for Lucas after nearly two years away from international action. However, it will mean some long flights and massive timezone shifts for the 26-year-old Brazilian.

The first friendly against South Korea will be in Seoul on October 12th before Brazil travel to Beijing to face Zambia on neutral ground on the 15th.

Ayre Talks "Difficult" Suarez & Contract Extension Plans

Despite admitting to it being difficult at times for the club to deal with Luis Suarez and his crises, Ian Aryre sees the striker in Liverpool's long-term plans and even suggests there will be contract negotiations before the end of the season.

Following Wednesday disappointing loss to Manchester United, while most fans were asking questions about team selection and why manager Brendan Rodgers started the clearly tired and injured over players he brought in to provide depth over the summer, those further afield were more focused on Luis Suarez. And managing director Ian Ayre was more than happy to talk openly about the controversial striker's return and possible future at the club.

"Of course, any types of incident of that nature are damaging to a brand," Ayre told Sky Sports News in an interview following the match, "but Liverpool Football Club is way, way bigger and always will be way bigger than any one player or one individual. What is important at those times is to ensure we act respectfully and professionally as a football club. In the past, we got some of that wrong, [though] I'd say more recently we got that right.

"Luis is a street fighter, a larger than life character, and we have had to deal with it. Nobody is condoning his behaviour, but it is just something you have to deal with. We've worked a lot with him since the Ivanovic incident and he's back to what he's best at. We all move on together. Hard work and lessons have been learnt and we now have a process in place for any crisis. Not a Suarez crisis, just any one."

Despite the problems Suarez has caused Liverpool—a series of incidents and controversies stretching back nearly to the moment he arrived at the club—Ayre was quick to praise the striker's commitment to working hard in practice so that he would be ready to go when his latest ban ended.

"He's been committed," said Ayre. "He's worked hard, trained hard. It's been difficult, and been difficult for him really. It's always difficult being a footballer, and being a footballer like Luis Suarez you want to be on a football pitch. I think it's been a challenge for him but he's got through it and I think, for a first game back, for somebody who hasn't had the opportunity to play in the Premier League this season, he acquitted himself very well."

The managing director also suggested, in what will seem a rather unexpected twist for many following a contentious summer that saw Suarez openly agitate for a move first to Real Madrid and then to just about anywhere that wasn't Liverpool, which the club would look to begin contract negotiations before the season's end:

"We [look to] begin those type of discussions two years in from the end, so it'll be the end of this season. We'll do the same with everyone and at the right time we'll have the discussion with Luis and his advisors."

Few will expect any such discussions to go anywhere, though if Liverpool remain in the hunt for a Champions League berth comes the final months of the season then anything might be possible. Still, most will take Ayre's words as being largely for show, and the safer money will be on Suarez departing in January than on his signing a new deal in April or May.

Match Preview: Manchester United vs Liverpool

Luis Suarez could make his return from his 10-game suspension for Liverpool against Manchester United in the Capital One Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.

The Uruguayan has been absent since the FA handed down his punishment for the Branislav Ivanovic biting incident, and Brendan Rodgers may look to introduce back into the starting lineup as soon as possible to ease the burden on Danny Sturridge.

The England striker has been Liverpool's only source of goals this season, and the Liverpool boss could look to rest him after a low-key performance in the defeat to Southampton last Saturday.

As it's the Capital One Cup, Rodgers may well give a few of the youngsters and fringe players the opportunity to impress - so don't be surprised if Andre Wisdom and Raheem Sterling get playing time.

Similarly, Iago Aspas has been in and out of the starting lineup this season as he looks to get up to speed in the Premier League. He could get a chance from the start at Old Trafford.

Daniel Agger is expected to miss out through injury, while Joe Allen (hamstring), Philippe Coutinho (shoulder) and Glen Johnson (ankle) are all set to miss out as well.

Simon Mignolet could get a rest with the Reds set to travel to Sunderland next Sunday, in which case back-up Brad Jones would deputize.

And after the Southampton defeat, don't expect Rodgers to try the four centre-backs experiment again. With Johnson still out, Wisdom could come in, while Enrique came off the bench against the Saints.

Liverpool Facing Fresh Injury Ahead Of United Clash

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers could be without centre-back stalwart Daniel Agger for their clash against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Agger played in the Anfield side's Southampton loss at the weekend, but was replaced with half an hour to go after aggravating a rib injury.

The centre-back was selected for the Saturday Merseyside clash, despite not training all week.

Rodgers will be looking to bounce back after their first league defeat of the season, while Manchester United will also see the Capital One Cup as a way to lift spirits after their humiliating defeat against City on Sunday.

"We’ll see how he is for the game,” said Rodgers.

"He could be a doubt for that game as he has not quite recovered. We wanted to give him time at the weekend, but unfortunately he was struggling with his breathing because he got a knock to his ribs.

"But we’ll see. He’s a player who makes a good recovery and we’ll see over the next 24 hours how he gets on for the game on Wednesday."

Rodgers Believes His Decisions Are Moving Liverpool Forward

Brendan Rodgers thinks that he is the man that is helping to turn Liverpool back to the glory-days, according to Liverpool's official website.

Rodgers is in his second season as 'The Reds' manager and has overseen three wins from five games, the club were top of the table until Saturdays shock defeat to Southampton at Anfield.

The Anfield club is now fifth and hoping to make a long overdue return to the Champions League, they haven't finished in the top four since the 2008/09 season.

The historic club has been going through a turbulent transitional spell; The Northern Irish manager became the fourth man in charge in two years following the sackings of Rafael Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish.

However, results have started to improve on and off the field and Rodgers believes he has played a significant part and will continue to in the coming years.

He told talkSPORT: "I want to be the one that steers the club back in the direction that it should be going in.

"That's not easy but I know I'm making the decisions in the best interests of the club, and that will always be the case.

"There was a difficult period at the beginning but from that we've grown and become better and better. I've got great confidence that in the coming months and years, we can really push on with that development.

"It's an incredible club - I've been on the outside, knowing Liverpool was a big club but it's not until you actually come in that the sheer scale and status of the club is phenomenal.

"To be the one in charge, trying to, in this part of its history, put it on the right track and the right direction - I'm hugely privileged.

"I'll fight for as long as I can to be here as long as I can; I know that's about getting good results."

The 40-year-old will be hoping for a second defeat over fierce rivals Manchester United in the space of a couple of weeks when the two sides meet in the League Cup this week, where he will also welcome back influential striker Luis Suarez from his ten match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Liverpool Keeping Tabs On Alonso Return

Liverpool is set to battle it out with Juventus over a move for Xabi Alonso.

The Real Madrid centre midfielder only has one year left on his contract at the Bernabeu and it remains to be seen whether he will be offered a new deal.

Alonso will turn 32 in November and it is thought that new Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is having second thoughts about sticking with the experienced midfielder or bringing in a younger breed of players.

Liverpool and Juventus are set to wait in the balance and are keeping a close eye on the contract situation of the Spanish international according to Talk Sport.

Alonso joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2009 for a fee of £30million and it was rumoured that he never wanted to leave Anfield but for a dispute with former manager Rafa Benitez.

He was a key player at Anfield with the highlight of his tenure winning the 2005 Champions League final.

Arsenal And Liverpool In Chase To Sign Austrian Starlet

Arsenal and Liverpool are battling it out with Juventus to sign Austria Under-21 ace Martin Hinteregger.

The 21-year-old has been a regular for Red Bull Salzburg over the past few seasons since making his first-team bow in October 2010.

Capped four times at Under-21 level, the versatile defender has been monitored by Juventus in recent weeks.

However, the Serie A side will face a battle to land Hinteregger as Liverpool and Arsenal both have a long-standing interest in him.

Napoli Revive Skrtel Interest

Reports continue to suggest that Napoli will swoop for Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel in January.

The centre-back has been repeatedly linked with the Partenopei and a reunion with Rafa Benitez, who first signed him from Zenit in 2008.

They were already in negotiations over the summer, but they could be revived during the January transfer window.

Liverpool would be willing to let Skrtel go, as they have signed several alternatives recently.

However, they would still want at least £10m for a player who is under contract until 2016.

Coutinho Hoping For Fast Return

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho says his shoulder surgery was a 'success' and he hopes to be back playing soon.

Coutinho was injured earlier this month against Swansea and needed an operation to stabilize the injury.

The Brazilian has started the season in superb form and Liverpool looked in need of his creativity at the weekend - after they lost 1-0 at home to Southampton.

But Coutinho has stated he is doing everything he can to be back playing as soon as possible - the initial assessment was that he would be back by the end of October.

"It's annoying to get injured, especially when you are playing well, but that happens," Globo Esporte quotes Coutinho as saying.

"I now want to focus on my recovery and do everything right to be back as soon as possible to help Liverpool in the league.

"The surgery was a success and this is what matters the most. I'll be back soon."

Coutinho is being strongly tipped to be part of Brazil's World Cup squad next year and he is hopeful of making the tournament in his homeland.

"I dream of getting called up again for the national team, but it's only up to me," he said.

"Of course it's bad when you get injured in a moment like this, but this is football.

"I have had a set-back and my concern is being fully ready as soon as possible. If I play well, things will happen naturally."

No Rush Over New Johnson Deal

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes there is no hurry to offer England right-back Glen Johnson a new Anfield contract.

Johnson, currently out of action with a sprained ankle, has just under two years to run on the extended deal he signed in 2011, and Rodgers is keen to keep the 29-year-old, who was signed in a £17.5 million deal from Portsmouth in 2009.

However, he is reportedly among the club's highest earners and would have to take a pay cut to stay.

Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's Boston-based owners, have been unwilling to increase the salaries of players once they pass their 30th birthday, and Johnson will be two months short of turning 31 when his contract expires in June 2015.

Asked about a new deal for the defender, Rodgers told the Daily Mirror: "It's something the club will take up at the right time. I'm not sure where it's at."

Johnson has not played since spraining his ankle during the 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United on September 1.

He is a doubt for England's final two World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland at Wembley next month, with Liverpool's Premier League trip to Newcastle on October 19 his likeliest return date.

In his absence, Andre Wisdom and Kolo Toure have filled the right-back slot, and Rodgers added: "Glen is the type of player [without whom] you don't realize what you're missing until he is not in the team. It will be great when we get him back. He's got the cast off his foot now."

Liverpool Will Not Forgive Suarez, Says Former Star

Former Liverpool star Phil Thompson believes Luis Suarez will never be forgiven for his actions that gave him a 10-match ban towards the end of last season.

The Uruguayan's suspension came after he was seen biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and Thompson has insisted that the striker's actions will not be forgotten in a hurry.

The current Soccer Saturday pundit told Sky Sports: "I don't think we'll ever forgive what he actually got up to with Ivanovic at the back of last season. It wasn't good, not for my football club."

However, with Suarez expected to make a return against Manchester United in the League Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, Thompson does believe he will act as a new signing for the Reds.

Thompson continued by saying: "But he's still here, which is fantastic. He will be like a new signing coming in for this season.

"I'm quite sure he will be in that starting line-up at Old Trafford and I think it adds that little extra."

And, ahead of the United game, Thompson has admitted that the return of Suarez will make the occasion even more exciting.

He finished by saying: "Does any Manchester United v Liverpool game need any spice? Not really, but this one is extra special because of Luis Suarez."

The two sides will go head-to-head for the second time this season - the Reds beat United at Anfield thanks to an early goal from Daniel Sturridge at the start of the month.

Morgan Nets A Beauty As U21s Beat Man City

Adam Morgan scored a devastating long-range lob as Liverpool U21s eased to a deserved 2-0 victory over Manchester City in their Barclays U21 Premier League clash at Ewen Fields on Monday night.

The striker's unstoppable finish - coupled with a second-half side-footed goal from Cameron Brannagan - ensured that Alex Inglethorpe's side left Hyde FC's ground with all three points on a thoroughly encouraging evening for the young Reds.

Rafael Paez, a recent acquisition from Real Madrid, put on an assured display at the heart of Liverpool's defence as he helped to keep the hosts at bay.

In an opening 20 minutes that produced very little goalmouth action, Manchester City's Seko Fofana was the first to cause a degree of concern for Liverpool's backline.

The home side intercepted possession deep into the Reds' half that gifted Fofana a brief glimpse of goal from 20 yards. The youngster rushed his effort, dragging a low drive well wide.

Shortly after, Stephen Sama's headed effort was equally wayward. The centre-back met a corner with a powerful nod that flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Morgan corrected his side's previously inaccurate aiming in the most emphatic fashion minutes later with a beautifully-struck long-range effort that rendered goalkeeper Ian Lawlor completely helpless.

The striker received possession just beyond the halfway line before swiftly turning and sending a sublime attempt soaring over the City custodian and into the back of the net to stun the hosts.

Sama was inches away from doubling the visitors' tally on the stroke of half-time, but his effort mirrored his header earlier in the half. The towering defender was first to meet a set-piece yet again but he flicked the ball agonizingly over the goalframe.

The Reds were nearly made to rue that missed opportunity so soon after the restart. Devante Cole rose to meet a corner and headed towards goal but was accidentally foiled by the torso of a fellow Blue - Shay Facey - before Liverpool reacted rapidly to clear the remaining danger.

City continued to pour forward in a desperate search for an equalizer but found themselves constantly thwarted by a sturdy Reds defence.

A cross from the right flank flashed across the face of goal and drew no contact until it fell to the feet of Sinan Bytyqi, who hesitated before striking a shot that was expertly blocked by the energetic Jordan Rossiter.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, the Reds compounded Patrick Vieira's side's misery through a composed finish from Brannagan. Sama utilized a combination of pace and strength to surge past Bytyqi and Adam Drury before drilling the ball into the area for the midfielder to calmly side-foot past Lawlor.

Liverpool built on an impressive move by continuing to prevent City from having any joy in the final third of the pitch as the Reds comfortably closed out the game to deservedly secure all three points.

Match Report: Liverpool 0 - 1 Southampton

Southampton's match-winner Dejan Lovren had more than one reason to smile as he left Anfield having scored the only goal and escaped with not conceding a penalty.

The Croatia international struck in the 54th minute to end Liverpool's 12-match unbeaten league run spanning this season and last.

However, the Saints - the last team to defeat the Reds in March - may not have won 1-0 had referee Neil Swarbrick had the benefit of television replays which showed the defender had brought down Daniel Sturridge in the first half.

That incident aside, however, Liverpool did not create nearly enough chances for a team who began the day top of the table.

On this evidence the return of the watching Luis Suarez, sitting out the final match of his 10-match ban, has come not a moment too soon.

Rodgers' sprang a surprise in his line-up by experimenting in defence by selecting four centre-halves - arguably the strongest area of his squad - after naming Kolo Toure on the right and Mamadou Sakho on the left either side of the returning Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Neither options at full-back looked a success in the first half, failing to supplement their defensive duties with anything approaching the usual attacking roles expected of that position.

Saints' right-back Nathaniel Clyde got forward more than the pair of them in 45 minutes in which his side did not have the majority of possession but were not afraid to commit men to attack.

Sakho, on only his second appearance after a less-than-convincing outing in central defence in the 2-2 draw at Swansea on Monday, is seen as the long-term option in the middle but being broken in at left-back seemed almost like the Reds boss was accommodating the £16million signing from Paris St Germain for the sake of it.

The watching Jamie Carragher, who patrolled central defence so brilliantly for so many years for Liverpool before his retirement last season, will no doubt have left with plenty of ammunition for his new role as a television analyst.

Sat close to Carragher was Suarez, enduring his last punishment for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in April.

He looks set to return for the midweek Capital One Cup tie at Manchester United so this was Iago Aspas' last real chance to impress following his summer move from Celta Vigo.

The Spaniard scored 12 goals last season but has yet to score in five league games for his new club and the fact he lasted only 45 minutes told its own tale.

Liverpool created two real chances in the first half in addition to the penalty shout, a paltry return by anyone's standards.

Goalkeeper Artur Boruc's brilliant one-handed save denied Gerrard's curling free-kick after Aspas had been fouled by Jose Fonte before Sturridge, who after scoring in first four league matches had been unusually quiet, thought he had won a spot-kick.

He cut back on the angle of the penalty area Luke Shaw and Lovren, who made contact with the striker but not the ball.

Victor Moses carved out his own chance when he collected Gerrard's throw down the left, cut in past a couple of defenders only to see Boruc turn his shot behind.

Southampton had probed in the first half without properly testing goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who created his own problems by coming for a ball Skrtel had covered and could only watch as Adam Lallana volleyed over the open goal.

Chances seemed to be a premium for strikers at both ends as Southampton's England international Rickie Lambert had one sight of goal, from Gerrard's miscontrol, but sliced a gentle looping shot into the arms of Mignolet.

Raheem Sterling's introduction for Aspas at half-time should have injected some life into Liverpool's attack but it was the visitors who struck first in the 54th minute.

Lovren beat Agger to Lallana's corner to head down and past Gerrard on the goalline. It was a goal you sensed had been coming for a while.

The boost in confidence that gave Southampton was evident in Shaw's driving run from halfway which saw Mignolet brilliantly stop both his shot, the rebound off Sakho and then get up to prevent substitute Steven Davis poking home.

Lovren then produced a timely intervention at the other end, diverting Sterling's low cross from the byline destined for Henderson.

In the final 20 minutes, Liverpool were back to two regulation centre-backs as Agger and Skrtel were replaced for more attacking options but it did little to change the outcome.

Rodgers Blames Liverpool’s ‘Criminal’ Defending

Brendan Rodgers has slammed Liverpool’s ‘criminal’ defending after they lost their first match of the season against Southampton.

The Reds went into the match yet to lose so far this term, but Dejan Lovren’s second-half header proved to the difference on a difficult afternoon at Anfield.

And manager Rodgers blames his side for switching off at the back as the key reason for the defeat.

‘We were not technically good enough,’ he said.

‘Both the performance and the result were very disappointing – we didn’t play to the usual level that we like to.

‘I thought the goal was criminal, really. That’s the brutal honesty of it.’

Rodgers rotated his backline for the clash and made the surprise decision to play four centre-backs across a back-four, with Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Mamadou Sakho all playing.

The system didn’t work, but Rodgers finished by highlighting the positions – which includes Luis Suarez now completing his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

‘That is the positive as he has now served his ban and we can bring someone as good as him back.’

Liverpool’s Barren Midfield Is Causing An Inability To Gel

Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to the hands of Southampton was more disappointing for the performance, than the result itself.

In fairness to the Saints, they came to Anfield and played a very impressive game of football. They were composed, strong and a great collective group. Considering they finished 20 points behind Liverpool last season, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have come on leaps and bounds over the summer.

There were worries with the Reds’ performance though. I’m not usually critical of Brendan Rodgers, but he got it wrong on Saturday.

Lining up with four natural centre-backs across the back raised a few eyebrows at kick-off, but it’s not something that hasn’t been tried (and worked) before.

Gerard Houllier had a back four of Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia and Markus Babel when Liverpool won the treble in 2001.

However, Mamadou Sakho is not a left-back, nor is Kolo Toure a right-back. Not, at least in the wing-back system Rodgers has been encouraging this year.

Sakho looked panicked on the left-side and then looked a relieved man when Jose Enrqiue came on during the second half to resume his role there.

Toure on the other hand bumbled his way down the right side, but was no substitute for the injured Glen Johnson.

Whilst Enrique and Cissokho, when fit, solve Liverpool’s left sided problems, I’m not too sure Liverpool’s transfers over the summer accounted for losing Johnson for a long period.

But the real problem Liverpool face, in my opinion, is the midfield engine.

When Steven Gerrard and Lucas switch off, there is a gaping hole between defence and midfield. The connection is missing, and therefore Liverpool looked incapable of pushing the ball forward with any sort of threat.

It has happened in second halves of games this season and has been commented upon by pundits. Against Southampton, Liverpool lacked that route between defence and attack throughout.

Iago Aspas is continuing to struggle in the physical Premier League, while the introduction of Raheem Sterling at half-time gave Liverpool some width, but he too was constantly ushered out of the game by the resolute Saints defence.

Southampton was the last team to beat Liverpool before this game and could well turn out to be Rodgers’ bogey team.

All attentions now turn to Wednesday with the League Cup third round trip to Old Trafford and the return of you-know-who.