Since arriving at Anfield in June of 2012 Brendan Rodgers has now had plenty of time to stamp his style of play on the team with it now reaching a stage where the Reds must once again start to win trophies.
An opportunity presents itself tonight when Liverpool travels to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the second leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final with a date at Wembley awaiting the winners following last Tuesdays 1-1 draw at Anfield with Liverpool boss Rodgers saying they do not intend to pass it up.
‘We respect the opponent, of course, because they’re a very good team,’ said Rodgers. ‘But we’ve got nothing to fear in the game. We’re a team that’s in a good moment.
‘We’re playing well, we’re working well and we know we can go there and win — that’s key.’
The team Rodgers put out in the first leg had an average age of 24-and-a-half which suggests Liverpool is well poised for future glory, but the Liverpool manager knows that winning a trophy now would be huge in what he is trying to build on Merseyside.
‘The manager spoke to us before the first game and said it is always the first trophy that helps you start something,’ explained Lucas Leiva, the in-form Brazil midfielder. ‘He is looking for that first medal to put a mark on the group.
‘We were fantastic in the Premier League last season but at the end we didn’t win. This group deserves something good and a medal to show how hard it works, and for the fans as well. We have a good history with Chelsea, back to the Champions League when Rafa Benitez was here.’
“Of course Chelsea will always be in the way of what we want to achieve because they are a big club,’ said Lucas.
“They are the same as Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City. When you get towards finals, you have to play them. Hopefully this time it will go our way.”
