Friday, 5th October, 2012

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has criticised his side after they lost 3-2 at home to Udinese in the Europa League last night.

The Reds took the lead through Jonjo Shelvey in the 23rd minute and headed in 1-0 up at half time and very much in control of the match.

relatedNewsStory However, Udinese came storming back in the second period, quickly levelling when Antonio Di Natale found the back of the net in the 46th minute, before Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates headed into his own net to give the Italians a 2-1 lead.


That quickly became 3-1 when Giovanni Pasquale drilled the ball home just a few minutes later, putting Liverpool in real trouble.

There was a consolation left in the game for the Reds when Luis Suarez stroked home a beautiful free kick. But despite 15 minutes remaining on the clock, Liverpool could not find an equaliser and Udinese took the spoils back to Italy.

And for Rodgers, Liverpool’s performance in the second half was nothing less than lazy.


"It was very frustrating", the Northern Irishman told his club’s official site.

"It was a game where we were much the better side but lost our concentration at the beginning of the second half. I thought we’d moved on from that, to be honest.

"We had total control in the first half and were deservedly in the lead, but we were so loose at the beginning of the second half it was frightening.

"Our concentration was very poor and before we knew it we were 3-1 down. The last 20 minutes was very good but it’s too late by then.

"I thought we were lazy. Lazy in our play, loose and sloppy.

"We didn’t do what I call the dirty bit: we didn’t track runners. If you don’t do that, if you don’t earn the right…

"Whether we thought the game was too comfortable? At this level it never is."

Liverpool’s next Europa League clash comes on 25th October, with Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala the visitors of Anfield.

 

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