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STEVIE G

Gerrard 'blown away' by Liverpool boss Rodgers

The Reds captain has praised his manager’s tactical acumen and man management skills, as well as reiterating his burning desire to win silverware

STEVEN GERRARD ADMITS he has been “blown away” by Brendan Rodgers since the Northern Irishman’s arrival at Liverpool and rates him among the very best managers he has worked with.

Rodgers arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2012 and led a youthful and dynamic Liverpool team to the brink of a first league title in 24 years in his second season, eventually finishing two points behind champions Manchester City.

The Reds have begun the new Premier League season in promising fashion despite the summer departure of talisman Luis Suarez, and Gerrard has no doubt over who is responsible for the team’s continued progress.

“Tactically he is very clever,” the Liverpool captain told US broadcaster ABC. “He reacts to situations, changes things for the better, see problems and adjusts things very quickly. In the two years I have worked with him he is up there with the best of them and I’ve worked with [Rafa] Benitez, [Fabio] Capello, [Roy] Hodgson — big names.

“He can play any formation he wants to play as he knows he has the personnel and he is not scared to change formation from game to game or tinker with it as the game is going on.

“He is a players’ manager, a manager you want to work hard for and win for. He shows the players unbelievable respect, he treats them like his own children and creates an unbelievable atmosphere to work in.

“I have been blown away by how sharp he is in the dressing room, how quick he is to see a problem.”

Having fallen narrowly short in last season’s Premier League title race, Gerrard insists his manager and his team-mates are determined to cap Liverpool’s spectacular recent resurgence with silverware this term.

“Brendan has been here for two years and I think he is desperate to get a trophy in the cabinet — that is goal number one,” he added.

“It is very important we maintain our place in the Champions League but after the journey we went on last year and the confidence we gained from it I think we are genuine title contenders as we have proved we can mix it with anyone in this league.”

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