BRENDAN RODGERS reckons there is one good thing about Luis Suarez’s 10-match ban — it has shown Liverpool are not just a one-man team.
The Reds responded to Suarez’s suspension for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic by walloping Newcastle 6-0.And Rodgers pointed out that in the previous match the Uruguayan star sat out, Liverpool won 3-2 at West Ham.
The Kop boss said: “If you are the second-highest scorers away, it’s not really just one guy who is doing it.
“That was proved last week, absolutely. Luis hasn’t played two games and we’ve scored nine goals away from home.
“It’s a bit unfair to say we were totally reliant on him, although Luis did his job really well, there’s no doubt.
“And because of his availability to play, and because we were short on strikers, then of course he was playing the games and getting the goals.
“But it’s just that he’s been the striker who has been fit, available and playing.
“Maybe if I had depth to the group I would have had him on the bench in games, rested him and put others in. “I didn’t have the luxury to do that, but now we have young Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho — and we’ll get more reinforcements in the summer.
“That will give us the depth in order for us to maintain the standard we are after. If we do that, and make a good start, we’ll be up there challenging — I have no doubt about that.”
Rodgers said that after the upheaval caused by his arrival, Liverpool did not manage a Premier League victory until September 29.
He says that is the main reason they are still chasing today’s derby opponents, Everton — who are on course to finish above Liverpool twice in succession for the first time since 1937. But Rodgers insisted that did not signal a power shift on Merseyside.
He added: “There’s no doubt our start point will be totally different next season. There’s no question we had a really difficult start and in that early part of the season we were trying to find the balance between what we were trying to do offensively and defensively.
“If you look at how the season has progressed we have become better and better.
“What we need to do is make sure our standard — that we have got to in a whole host of games — is consistent.
“That comes with players who are now in tune with what we are trying to do.
“So I think when Luis comes back it will be into a strong group.
“So I don’t believe there has been a shift in power — not to my eyes, no.
“This is a club which traditionally has been the top side here for however many years. And it is still the top club here.
“Everton finished above us last year and have had a good season this year.
“But for us it has always been to finish as high as we can, knowing this year was for building the base.
“Next year we have to really push on.”
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