Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has slammed Brendan Rodgers for his poor team selection for their latest Champions League fixture against Real Madrid.
The Northern Irishman rested any first team players after their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Saturday. There were seven key players dropped for the midweek European clash are Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli, Dejan Lovren, Jordan Henderson and Glen Johnson.
The Reds suffered to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of the 10-times European champions at the Bernabeu as Real progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League. They now host the Premier League leaders Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday.
Nicol, the former Liverpool defender says Rodgers has been left clueless as to how to solve the Anfield club’s problems and has criticised the former Swansea manager for his team selection against Real.
“What we’ve seen is a manager who is under a lot of pressure. This is someone whose side last year were so good and just couldn’t do wrong,” Nicol told Talksport.
“Now we’re seeing a manager who is not quite sure how to fix [their problems]. He’s making decisions which are beginning to look, to anyone on the outside, like he’s really struggling.”
“In fact, Brendan is really struggling. Liverpool have to get some results very soon to get the fans back onside.”
“What he did, against Real Madrid, is put a lot of fans against him. The owners will persevere with him. I don’t think, by any strength of the imagination, he won’t be there at the end of the season, but he’s alienated a lot of fans,” the Anfield legend stressed.
If it was down to form, dropping seven first team players and playing your second fiddle team against the European giant shows Liverpool were prepared for defeat and lacked winning mentality for the clash against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
After such an impressive last campaign, the Reds’ fans were lifted and were very positive about this season. However, the poor start to the season has already raised concerns. It should be seen if they can bounce back and manage to finish in top four this season.
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