Rodgers: Hillsborough Campaigner's Words Inspired Us

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he used the words of Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall to inspire his team to a 3-2 victory at Norwich.

Aspinall's son James died in the tragedy which took the lives of 96 Liverpool fans in 1989.

She spoke during a memorial service at Anfield on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster.

"She talked about stress - it can prove difficult but can also offer you great determination to fight," said Rodgers.

"Those were words we gave the players before the game. We stuck them on the wall.

"It is a club that is as one at the moment - and we are all fighting to achieve the ultimate goal."

Liverpool's win at Carrow Road moved them five points clear at the top of the Premier League with three games remaining - against Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Newcastle.

The win has guaranteed a Champions League group-stage spot for next season and, at present, the Reds need seven points from those matches to secure their first league title since 1990.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez put Liverpool ahead at Norwich before Gary Hooper pulled one back. Sterling restored the two-goal cushion before a dogged Canaries side set up a tense finish after Robert Snodgrass headed in.

Sterling's two goals took the 19-year-old's tally to nine for the league season and Rodgers was full of praise for the young forward.

"He is arguably the best young player in European football at the moment," the manager added.

"I've been really pleased with his maturity. He puts an awful lot of time into his work. We've tried to play him in different positions to improve his football intelligence.

"He is a really humble kid and it has been great to see."

Rodgers added: "You have seen all the characteristics of our team - wonderful invention, creativity, arrogance on the ball, goalscoring as well as young and senior players playing in a structure that allows them to express themselves.

"In addition, we have had to show the courage to dig in and fight away from home against a team that is fighting for its life to stay in the division."

Former Liverpool winger John Barnes said if the Reds were to clinch the title, it would be the greatest Premier League victory of any club.

Speaking ahead of a 'Celebration of the 96' match at Anfield, he told BBC Radio 5 live: "The consistency they've shown has been incredible and I think if they win it this will be the most incredible victory from any team in the history of the Premier League.

"Where they were last year without making any major signings - (Daniel) Sturridge and Coutinho were there last year - so to finish seventh last year to winning the Premier League would be an incredible achievement and credit has to go to the players and the manager."

Liverpool Showed They Can Cope Without Sturridge and Henderson

Liverpool star Lucas Leiva feels the absence of striker Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Jordan Henderson will not affect the club’s race to the title.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are leading the Premier League table, five points ahead of second-placed Chelsea and are close to winning the title after almost 24 years after they beat Norwich City 3-2 on Sunday.

The Reds were without the services of Sturridge and Henderson on Sunday, with the former being out with a hamstring injury while the latter is serving a three-match suspension for a foul on Samir Nasri during their game against Manchester City.

But Lucas, who was called in along with Joe Allen to replace the duo, feels that with just three matches to go in the crunch title race, Liverpool will be able to cope with their absence.

“Jordan has played every game for the club this season and is doing a fantastic job”, the Brazilian told the club’s site.

"But any player coming in tries to do well for the team. It was no different for me and Joe.

"Of course, Sturridge and Jordan are important players for us, but we showed we have players that can come on, keep the level of performance and still get three points", the 27-year-old added.

Liverpool will be facing Jose Mourinho’s team at Anfield in a crucial match on Sunday before they play Crystal Palace and Newcastle United over the remaining weeks.

Rodgers: Reds Must Stay Grounded

Boss Brendan Rodgers says it is important Liverpool keep their feet on the ground as they prepare for a huge game against Chelsea.

The Reds took another step closer to their first Premier League title as they defeated Norwich 3-2 at Carrow Road, but Rodgers says they cannot get carried away.

England World Cup hopeful Raheem Sterling scored twice and Uruguay hitman Luis Suarez broke the 30-goal barrier as the Reds moved five points clear of Chelsea, who they host at Anfield next weekend.

"You never get too carried away when you win, and you never get too disappointed when you lose," said Rodgers, whose side are now guaranteed a top-three finish and with it a return to the Champions League.

"You can't win every game, but dealing with the expectancy is all part of being at a huge club like Liverpool. All I know is my players give me everything and I cannot ask for any more. For me, that is what is important.

"Now it will be about recovering. It is going to be a brilliant game next weekend with Chelsea coming to Anfield. The supporters will be right up for it and the team will look forward to it."

Liverpool are now nine points clear of Manchester City, who are third with two games in hand, one of which is against West Brom at the Etihad Stadium on Monday evening.

Liverpool To Fight United For Samba Star

Liverpool are ready to battle bitter rivals Manchester United for the summer signature of Cruzeiro midfielder Everton Ribeiro, [football] direct news understands.

A source close to the Merseyside outfit told FDN that the former Brazil under-20 international is on boss Brendan Rodgers’ list of targets, drawn up in preparation for the next transfer window.

The title-chasing Reds are well aware of United’s interest but are confident of presenting themselves as the more attractive destination by securing Champions League football for next term, possibly at their rivals’ expense.

The champions face an uphill struggle to finish in the top four and entertain Liverpool at Old Trafford in one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures in the football calendar this Sunday.

For his part, Ribeiro has refused to talk about a potential departure from his current club but that has not deterred his suitors, with Liverpool keen to put him alongside fellow countrymen Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva in midfield.

The 24-year-old can operate on both flanks or through the middle.

Liverpool Eye Spurs Outcast

Liverpool is aiming to end Sandro’s Tottenham Hotspur misery at the end of the season, [football] direct news understands.

The Brazil international seemingly has a bleak future in north London after being dropped for Saturday’s 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Fulham and then tweeting about it, to tell followers that he was not injured.

A source close to Anfield told FDN the title favourites hope to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding his situation at Spurs by tempting them with a bid when the transfer window reopens this summer.

The club insider claims the Reds feel he would link up well with compatriots Lucas Leiva and Philippe Coutinho on Merseyside, and boss Brendan Rodgers is anxious to add more depth to a squad which will be competing in next season’s Champions League.

Sandro, who has made 23 appearances this term, has little more than two years remaining on his contract at White Hart Lane and is likely to be tempted by the prospect of participating in Europe’s top club competition.

Real Madrid Plot £90m Bid For Suarez

Real Madrid are preparing a massive bid for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez that, if successful, would see the Bernabeu break the world transfer record for a second time in the space of a year.

CaughtOffside understands that Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti has been given the go ahead by the club’s money-men to pursue the 27 year old Anfield star, who has been in outstanding form this season.

Suarez is not only the Premier League’s leading goal-scorer but he also tops the assist making charts and is a shoe-in to win the PFA Player of the Year award, with the former Ajax man being one of three Liverpool star’s nominated for the prestigious prize with skipper Steven Gerrard and strike partner Daniel Sturridge also in the running.

Ancelotti is keen to bring in Suarez to form part of a mouthwatering strike trio in a central role with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale plying their trade on the wings. It’s a move that will lead Real Madrid to conduct something of a summer sale to help fund.

Real Madrid are keen to adhere to UEFA’s FFP (Financial Fair Play) guidelines and is part of an ambitious overhaul the Spanish giants are looking to conduct in order to make the most of arch rival Barcelona’s transfer ban.

Suarez’s form has been a key factor in Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge and Brendan Rodgers will be loathed to lose the forward but Real Madrid will hope that a £90m (€110m) bid would prove impossible to consider.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez is confident of turning Suarez’s head and will feel all the more sure of being able tempt the unstoppable striker if his side has secured either a La Liga or Champions League crown this term, two titles that Ancelotti is still very much in the hunt for having already clinched a Copa del Rey triumph.

Though the outlay for Suarez would prove hugely costly Real Madrid are confident that the promotional and merchandising benefits of bringing in one of the best players in world football will more than compensate for the huge fee needed to convince Liverpool to sell their prized asset.

Suarez only recent signed a new lucrative deal which will see the marksman earn £200k a week from next season onwards though Real Madrid are ready to offer the forward as much as £270k a week as well as a hefty signing on bonus and a five year contract that would make him one of the best players on the planet.

Ancelotti is ready to listen to offers for benched keeper Iker Casillas, young striker Alvaro Morata as well as defenders Fabio Coentao and Raphael Varane whilst also considering big money offers for Sami Khedira, Isco and Angel Di Maria.

Liverpool Facing Five-Way Fight For Colombian Star

Liverpool is one of five clubs considering a summer swoop for Udinese forward Luis Muriel.

The striker's representative last week revealed the Colombia international is open to offers having struggled for a regular first-team role this term. The 23-year-old has started only 13 league games, yet has still managed to find the back of the net on four occasions.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers can start planning for a return to Champions League football following the 3-2 win at Norwich City and Muriel is on his list of targets to bolster his free-scoring attack.

But the Northern Irishman is not the only manager interested in Muriel, as four Serie A clubs are monitoring his situation closely.

Fiorentina, Juventus, Lazio and AC Milan are also on the trail of the former Deportivo Cali man, who won the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year award in 2012.

Borini and Assaidi Help Liverpool's Title Tilt With Late Winners Against Chelsea

Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have grabbed the headlines for Liverpool this season, but Brendan Rodgers also has two of his other forwards to thank for his side's five-point advantage at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Fabio Borini and Oussama Assaidi were both shipped out of the club on loan last summer after moving to Anfield a year earlier and, despite not playing for Rodgers' side this season, both have had their say on the title race with key goals against Chelsea.

Borini's late penalty for Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday not only earned the Black Cats a 2-1 win and three vital points in their fight against relegation to the Championship, it also put a huge dent in Jose Mourinho's hopes of overhauling Liverpool at the top of the table

Had Gus Poyet's side missed from the spot and the score remained the same, the Blues would've found themselves within four points of the Merseyside outfit with three games to play and a trip to Anfield still to come.

The impact of Liverpool's loanees on the race for the Premier League crown was also seen back in December when Assaidi scored a stunning injury-time winner against Mourinho's men.

In an entertaining game at the Britannia, two goals from Andre Schurrle had the visitors on level terms before the Morocco international bent the ball past Petr Cech from outside the area to seal a 3-2 victory for the Potters.

Without the former Heerenveen winger's influence, Chelsea would likely be another point better off in their hunt for a fourth Premier League title and third under Mourinho's stewardship.

Liverpool's impressive goal difference, which currently stands at +52, would still have Rodgers' men in control of their own destiny going into Sunday's showdown at Anfield.

But without the goals of Borini and Assaidi, the Blues would have had an opportunity to draw level on points with their title rivals. Instead, an away win this weekend will leave the west London club still two points behind the league leaders.

Suarez and Sturridge will rightly do battle for Liverpool's Player of the Year award, but Rodgers' decision to send two out-of-favour forwards on loan has helped ensure the Reds' title challenge now looks slightly more comfortable for the final weeks of this unpredictable season.