Rodgers' Reds: Class is Permanent

Glad to read that MUFC have failed to win trophies since 16'. I'd say your a favorite to retain the title, with your team having great depth and players!

2015-06-18 01:34#214939 Devzie92 : Quality update, good to read how those clubs have fared in the past 6 years (gametime) United not won a trophy since 2016? noooooooooooooo!!!

Thanks! Haha, Liverpool's been taking all their trophies now if only the same thing would happen in real life, eh?

2015-06-18 11:42#214959 Pauker : Glad to read that MUFC have failed to win trophies since 16'. I'd say your a favorite to retain the title, with your team having great depth and players!

Hopefully!

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Liverpool will cut short their defense of the Champions League unexpectedly early, after Chelsea battled their Premier League rivals to a 5-4 victory in the Quarter Finals.

The tournament favorites won 3-1 at Anfield with 10 men after Kyriakos Papadopoulos got himself sent off in the 46th minute, thanks to an own goal from Willian followed by strikes from Richairo Zivkovic and Raheem Sterling.

But they crumbled in the second leg as Chelsea took a decisive 4-1 win at Lampard Stadium. Salomon Rondon opened the scoring for the Blues, and Oscar added on to the scoreline just 4 minutes later. Portuguese winger Bruma made it 3-0 before Sterling came to the rescue again, pulling one back for his side.

However, extra time was not to be. Just 20 minutes from time, the superb Eden Hazard hit home a brilliant effort, beating Jason Steele and sinking Liverpool's hopes.


Getting knocked out of a competition they were expected to win will be a bitter pill to swallow for Liverpool, especially after they had recorded a one hundred percent win record in cups this season.

The League Cup, Club World Cup, Community Shield, and the UEFA Super Cup have all already been secured by Brendan Rodgers' side and they had looked on course for a perfect collection of seven trophies come the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's players and fans alike will be celebrating their revenge against Liverpool for knocking them out of the League Cup Semi Finals in January.

The London club can now focus all of their attention onto winning the entire competition. Their first and last European Cup was won in 2012, and since then, they have lost in the Final on two occasions in 2016 and 2017.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid and Arsenal both triumphed over CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos respectively, while Barcelona managed to knock out Manchester United.


"I have no words," said a visibly frustrated Rodgers after the second leg match. "I am simply speechless. To lose in that kind of manner is just unacceptable and I will have to speak to my players about the way they approached this game.

"I don't want to dwell on the result after today because I believe in moving on after experiencing failure, but the players need to understand that these are the kind of games we cannot be afford to be losing.

"I am especially sorry to the fans because of how poor we looked. There is plenty more games to play until the season ends and hopefully we can make up for our loss here."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was naturally in good spirits and also spared time to speak to Sky Sports reporters.

"Of course, I am very happy that we won against Liverpool. They are a very good team but we were the better side today.

"But we have not won the Champions League yet, so we should not celebrate like we have won the Champions League. Let's save that for when Chelsea win in the Final."

Liverpool's next game is another decisive fixture, as they go up against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup Semi Final.

Sad to see you out of the Champions league. Especially quite early and to Chelsea!

You need to give other teams a chance though I guess Looking forward to seeing that League title brought home though!

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Liverpool have dropped out of two cup competitions in the space of five days, after following up their Champions League defeat to Chelsea with a penalty shootout loss against in-form Arsenal.

It was perhaps one of the most nail-biting games ever witnessed in English football. On-loan Manchester City striker Giovanni Simeone, who has been a revelation since signing for Liverpool, scored the first goal of the match, and it remained 1-0 in Liverpool's favor up until stoppage time. In the 91st minute, Arsenal defender John Brooks equalized to throw the game into extra time.

A penalty shootout looked unlikely, when Raheem Sterling scored what appeared to be the decisive winner 6 minutes from time, but Calum Chambers rose the spirits of Arsenal fans around the globe after yet another last-ditch equalizer at the very last second, taking the game to penalties.

After 15 perfect penalties from both sides, it finally ended when Eder Alvarez Balanta's shot was saved by David Ospina, sending Arsenal to the FA Cup Final after the Gunners' magical 120 minutes.


Having been hit by two late goals, Liverpool will definitely feel hard done by, having been the better side throughout the entirety of the match.

With the Reds out of the picture, the FA Cup Final is set to be a London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea, who sealed their place after an easy 2-0 victory over Swansea.

Dropping out of two prestigious tournaments the club's board expected to win might perhaps raise doubts over Brendan Rodgers' position at Liverpool, although no radical change is expected to happen.

The 47-year-old looked twice his age while addressing the media in a post-match press conference. "I'm genuinely shocked at what's happened. It's an undeserved result for us.

"This is a big, big disappointment, because I truly believed that a team of our quality could go on to win every trophy this season. Now we are not only out of the Champions League, but also the FA Cup when we are so close.

"It's a massive disappointment and I'm just really taken aback by it all. But we still have the league title to play for and it's important to remain focused until the season is done, instead of crying over spilled milk."


In the Premier League, Liverpool already have one hand on the title with more than 10 points in front of 2nd-placed Manchester United, and can mathematically secure their 22nd league trophy with a win in their next fixture against Merseyside rivals Everton.

Sportsmail columnist and Reds legend Jamie Carragher has called for calm from Liverpool supporters, urging them to continue backing Rodgers.

"Some Liverpool fans are unhappy because we aren't gong to win a complete haul of seven trophies this season. That's how used to success we are.

"Everyone knows how much Brendan has done for Liverpool since coming in and I firmly believe he's still the right man to take the club forward.

"He can be Liverpool's very own Alex Ferguson, or the second Bill Shankly if you'd prefer, and in times like this the fans and the board need to stick by him knowing what he's done for the club in the past."

With no other cup competitions left to play in, Liverpool will have six remaining league fixtures to play before they end the 2019/20 season.

Liverpool's Champions League and FA Cup campaigns ended this month, but on a positive note, they also brought their 22nd league title to Anfield after a brilliant 7-0 win over Everton, securing their status as league winners with 5 games left to play.

Liverpool April Player of the Month

Raheem Sterling has been one of Liverpool's best performers this season and continued his streak of good form. The young forward scored in every single one of the Reds' cup games in April, although he failed to inspire his side to wins over Arsenal and Chelsea, and was pretty much the best player performance-wise this month with great games against the likes of Blackburn and Arsenal.

Manager's Thoughts

This would have been the perfect month if not for the losses to Chelsea and Arsenal. It's really hard to take, since I honestly thought winning seven trophies was a realistic target for us this season but now we'll just have to settle for the Premier League title, which we did secure after our 7-0 crushing of Everton. Now it's time to finish the season with just three games remaining, and then rebuild for the next.

That has to be the most unlucky way to lose in a semi final. I bet you're gutted mate, I would be. In fact I am
Good going in the league though, congratulations on retaining the title of best in England

2015-06-18 20:39#214984 AaronHJFT96 :
Sad to see you out of the Champions league. Especially quite early and to Chelsea!

You need to give other teams a chance though I guess Looking forward to seeing that League title brought home though!

That has to be the most unlucky way to lose in a semi final. I bet you're gutted mate, I would be. In fact I am
Good going in the league though, congratulations on retaining the title of best in England

Thanks Aaron, yeah gutted to lose haha, was literally raging in real life but well, it's over and I do have to give other teams a chance anyway. Just have to do better next season

Following the end of their final three games, the curtains fall on Liverpool's successful title campaign, where they picked up a record 105 points in 38 games, having won 34, drawing 3 and losing just 1.

Liverpool May Player of the Month

Liverpool captain James Ward-Prowse scoops the season's last Player of the Month award after three good games against Stoke, Everton, and Chelsea. The midfielder received his 11th Man of the Match award this month, breaking the Premier League's record for most Man of the Matches in a single season, and also received the achievement of having played in every single Liverpool league game in 2019/20, after coming on as a substitute against Chelsea to mark his 38th appearance.

Manager's Thoughts

It's been quite a season for us and just one loss in the league is my best record. Maybe next season we can become the new Invincibles? It looks likely, but I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves. For now, I will be enjoying my post-season break and then get back to rebuilding the team for our assault on seven trophies next season.

At the Premier League awards, Liverpool took 4 awards, and also had 6 of the players in their title-winning team named in the PFA Team of the Year XI, and another 2 on the bench.


Jeronimo Rulli has won the Golden Glove twice in as many years in the Premier League, with a league record of 25 clean sheets. The Liverpool goalkeeper conceded just 14 goals in 35 games, easily clinching the award ahead of Manchester United's David de Gea, who has 17 clean sheets, and Newcastle's Tim Krul with 15.


Victor Wanyama picks up the Premier League's Goal of the Season with his 35-yard effort in his side's 3-1 win over Chelsea on the 6th of October.


Domenico Berardi is the recipient of the Golden Boot after scoring 23 goals in 32 league appearances for Manchester City. Trailing behind with 22 goals is Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli, followed by Chelsea striker Salomon Rondon, who has netted on 20 occasions.


Brendan Rodgers picks up his fourth Manager of the Year after a successful title campaign where he led Liverpool to finish 20 points ahead of 2nd-placed Manchester United, amassing a total of 105 points.


It is a triple delight for Mario Balotelli, who has won the FWA Footballer of the Year for three seasons running. The flamboyant Italian scored 22 goals and assisted 19 in 38 games this season as Liverpool stormed their way to the league title.


The PFA Player of the Year goes to Balotelli's teammate Raheem Sterling, who has had a spectacular season himself, scoring 17 and creating 13 goals in 35 games.


Brentford summer signing Gabor Foldi takes the PFA Young Player of the Year after a breakthrough season where he scored 19 goals in 29 games to help his side finish 7th. The 20-year-old Hungarian striker has been a revelation in his debut Premier League year and is being monitored by various European sides.

This season, Liverpool won the quintuple once again, adding the League Cup, Club World Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, and of course, the Premier League title to their growing collection of trophies under Brendan Rodgers. However, they missed out in the Champions League and the FA Cup after getting knocked out in the Quarter Finals and the Semi Finals respectively.


Mario Balotelli didn't manage to hit his goalscoring heights of last season, but still managed to find the net a respectable 34 times in all competitions. In the league, the 29-year-old scored 22 goals, finishing as runner-up for the Premier League's Golden Boot.


Balotelli is also the player with the most assists for Liverpool this season, recording a number of 29 goals created in all competitions, just 1 less away from his personal best of 30 assists.


Liverpool captain James Ward-Prowse is the Fans' Player of the Year after one of his best seasons yet in a Reds shirt, where he scored 7 goals and assisted 22 in 62 appearances.

Another title. Congratulations mate!

2015-06-19 06:05#215019 AaronHJFT96 : Another title. Congratulations mate!

Thanks Aaron!

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With Euro 2020 around the corner and the final 23-man squads for the tournament already named, the pick of Liverpool's European players have prepared to board the plane to Germany and link up with their respective national teams.

Before that, LFCTV presenter Claire Rourke got to talk to Liverpool captain James Ward-Prowse, who will be an important part of England's plans to defend their European Championship title.

The 25-year-old spoke about his targets for the Three Lions and teammate Ryan Joseph, who only won his first England cap three months ago, but is also set to be on the flight to Munich.

"We have the best national squad at the moment. That's what I believe and I'm ready to prove that in the Euros," said the former Southampton man.

"There are going to be plenty of strong teams. Germany and Belgium are two that we have to look out for, especially Germany, since they're going to be really fired up on their home ground.

"But in my opinion, England is much better and there's no reason why we can't win the Euros for the second time in a row."

In 2016, an England team captained by Wayne Rooney lifted the trophy after a convincing 5-0 beat down of unlikely finalists Poland, on the back of spectacular performances from the likes of James Milner and Phil Jagielka.

However, things have changed since then. Managers have been switched, with Roy Hodgson initially being replaced by Louis van Gaal following his retirement after a successful Euro 2016 campaign. But the Dutchman was soon sacked as a consequence to England's poor showing in the World Cup, leading to current boss Paco Ayestaran's appointment.


Rooney, now aged 34, is past his best and most recently played for League One side Sheffield United after being released by Manchester United in 2018.

The national legend lost the captaincy to Gary Cahill, and was never picked in an England squad after his departure from the Red Devils.

Phil Jagielka, 37, and James Milner, 34, could both still do a job for England, but they announced their retirement from international football in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Jagielka just played his last season for Everton having announced his decision to hang up his boots at the end of 2019/20, and Milner is expected to follow soon.

And even so, does Ward-Prowse think the current national squad has players that can fill in for these absent veterans?

"Absolutely," was the firm reply. "Wazza is an England legend, there's really no questioning that. Milner and Jagielka were both really important for us in the last tournament as well.

"But we have had a lot of new and younger players stepping up, such as Calum Chambers and Patrick Roberts, who have been brilliant. I don't think we will have any problems at the Euros."

Ward-Prowse is largely regarded as one of England's best players, alongside club teammates Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson, the latter being Cahill's deputy as vice-captain. Other key names are Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart and United left-back Luke Shaw.


On 19-year-old Ryan Joseph, who has also been included in the 23-man team, Ward-Prowse said, "I'm delighted for Ryan. He's had a good season and has shown a lot of potential.

"The gaffer's decision to include him is justified and I'm looking forward to see how he'll perform on the big stage. Representing your country in your first major tournament is an experience you will never forget for the rest of your life, and hopefully his memories of Euro 2020 will be pleasant ones.

The Liverpool right-back, who has made 56 league appearances for the Reds since linking up with the club's youth team from West Ham in 2017, is certainly giving usual first-choice Nathaniel Clyne intense competition for a first-team place.

Joseph's good form meant that his fellow full-back was restricted to just 25 league games for Liverpool this season, and the West Ham academy graduate will now extend the competition within the club to the national side, where Clyne is also a first-team regular.

Aside from Liverpool's English players, there are a number of others who will be representing different countries in Germany this summer.

One such person is Samuel Umtiti, who will look to bring his defensive prowess from club to country after France's disappointing Euro 2016, where they failed to qualify from the group stages.


The 26-year-old joins fellow teammate and Frenchman, 20-year-old Yannis Aubry, in France's final 23-man squad for the Euros.

Aubry, who is also at his first major tournament for France, made 19 appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool this season.

Another Liverpool youngster experiencing his first European Championship would be Yusuf Turan, 19, who is already seen as one of Turkey's most skilled footballers. The left-back, who has 17 caps, will be attempting to drag his side as far into the tournament as possible.

England - 6

Jason Steele
Ryan Joseph
Nathaniel Clyne
Jordan Henderson
Raheem Sterling
James Ward-Prowse

France - 2

Samuel Umtiti
Yannis Aubry

Austria - 1

David Alaba

Greece - 1

Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Turkey - 1

Yusuf Turan

Italy - 1

Mario Balotelli

Holland - 1

Richairo Zivkovic

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Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are actively chasing Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers with plans to install him as the man in the hot seat at the Allianz Arena.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is a known admirer of the Northern Irish boss. The 47-year-old is approaching his 8th year at Anfield, and in that period of time, he has led the club to win a total of 22 trophies.

However, Rodgers has already won every trophy that can be won in England, and rumors have floated about that he is keen on pursuing a new challenge elsewhere.

Rummenigge would be keen to give Rodgers exactly that. The Bayern board want immediate success following a dreadful season where they won nothing, save for the DFL Supercup.

Julen Lopetegui arrived at the club in 2018 with a big reputation having won various accolades at Porto, and he seemed to be the perfect man for Bayern when he led the side to wrestle the Bundesliga title back from Dortmund at the first time of asking.

Unfortunately, his second season in charge has been much, much worst. Bayern finished 5th, 16 points behind eventual title winners Leverkusen, and were also knocked out of the DFB Pokal in the Second Round against Hannover. There was no European success on the cards either after they dropped out to Olympiacos in the Round of 16.

Lopetegui has been quickly relieved of his duties and the club's board, alarmed at how quickly Bayern have plummeted downhill, want a replacement who can breed a winning culture again in Munich.


In Rummenigge's eyes, Rodgers would be the perfect person to take over from the disgraced Lopetegui, although concerns will be raised that the former Swansea manager has never had a job outside of England.

Still, it largely depends on Rodgers himself if he wants to accept the job. He is understood to be Bayern's prime managerial target, but the Ulsterman values loyalty, as seen from when he rejected the chance to join Borussia Dortmund at the start of last season.

If anything, Rodgers might simply decide to run his current Liverpool contract down if he desires a move. The £72k per week deal was signed in 2016 and will expire next year.

Despite all that, the temptation of rebuilding Bayern back into a European powerhouse will definitely urge Rodgers to consider his next move carefully.

Die Roten have an aging squad, with the oldest player being 36-year-old Philipp Lahm, but Rummenigge is reportedly ready to offer the club's incoming manager a sizeable transfer budget in exchange for promises of glory.

On Liverpool's side, club sources have claimed that owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner are set to counteract Bayern's interest by offering Rodgers an improved contract to stay on beyond 2021.