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Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool created enough opportunities to win 'two or three' matches after they were frustrated by a 'staggering' goalkeeping performance in a 0-0 draw with Reading on Saturday.
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The Reds created a whole host of opportunities, but were thwarted by an exceptional display from Royals' custodian Alex McCarthy - a man playing his first competitive football since November.
Rodgers told his post-match press conference: "I don't think our players could have done any more. Some of our interchange and creativity today was outstanding.
"Some days you say you have days like that when the 'keeper makes one or two good saves, but we had 14 shots on target today away from home.
"I know young Alex very well - he's genuinely going to be a top, top 'keeper. To perform like that having been out for so long - it was an absolutely staggering performance.
"We're frustrated, of course, Some of our play was very, very good. We had to defend counter-attacks a couple of times, which is natural when you have the ball and you're on the front foot. We mustn't forget Pepe Reina made a great save as well [from Noel Hunt]."
McCarthy pulled off a string of fine saves to thwart the likes of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard.
On the two occasions he was beaten, Suarez's goal-bound chip was headed off the line by Chris Gunter while Coutinho had an effort chalked off for offside.
Rodgers continued: "We're one of the top goalscorers in the league. This season, some of our performances have been very good, but what we've got to do next season is make sure we turn the performances into points. That's the key thing.
"We created enough opportunities to win two or three games today. You give credit to the Reading boys because they defended well when they had to, at times putting their bodies on the line.
"It was a real, real difficult game for them but for us, we'd expect to win the game."
The result leaves Liverpool seventh in the Barclays Premier League table, though they are eight points off fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played a game more.
"It's a point moving forward - but it should have been three," said Rodgers. "Our aim going into the last games of the season was to finish as high as we possibly could.
"We didn't make a great start, but since the opening 13/14 games we've really pushed on.
"We're disappointed not to have picked up three points last week and this week, but it's a process and what I am seeing all the time is the hunger, spirit and determination of the team.
"Today was a real, creative performance and we had good opportunities, but it just wasn't to be and you've got to give young Alex an incredible amount of credit.
"We just have to lick our wounds and move on."
Despite drawing their last two games 0-0, Rodgers has no concerns over Liverpool's firepower in front of goal and insists his side will learn from the stalemates with West Ham and Reading.
He explained: "You always try to find solutions to break down the opponent - but I don't think anything today was about breaking down the opponent. I think we did that but we came up against a 'keeper who was inspired.
"We can have no complaints this year because we've scored many goals, but in the last two games we just haven't been able to find a way through, which happens.
"But we've kept another clean sheet as well - that's 13 which is one of the best in the league.
"These are marginal games that we'll take on and take forward, but going forward we'll have to finish off games like that."
Meanwhile, local journalists quizzed Rodgers on whether he felt 23-year-old McCarthy had the potential to represent England.
The former Reading boss replied: "Yes, absolutely. There's no question. He'll have a hard job because Joe Hart is one of the top five goalkeepers in world football, so it'll be difficult for him. But there's no doubt he's a top talent.
"I remember him when I was here as the manager, but I was aware of him before that. He came in later on when he was in his teens and he was always the talent.
"Reading have always produced very good goalkeepers, so he was down the pecking order at the time I was here and out on loan.
"But he's got all the qualities to be a top, top 'keeper. It was a great performance by him."Comment
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The same Manc team that just played in FA cup and CL competitions......oh... and they won.Originally posted by MrMichael View Post
We have had 2 games in 14 days and had 2 embarrasing results.Comment
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It's difficult to be too critical today, we're 7th because that's where we deserve to be. Our season has been at times thrilling and the rest of the time pretty frustrating. I am not totally convinced that Rodgers is the man to take us forwards, but I think he's just about earned another season. I'd never advocate hiring and firing, but the cumulative effect of written off seasons is wrecking our chances of getting back into the CL. I'd conditionally give Rodgers one more season with the aim of getting into the top 5 no more than 3 points away from fourth. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that next season given that we won't be playing any European football.Comment
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I've seen keepers get motm against manure and still be on the end of a 5-0 hammering we are just not clinical enough and then tippy tappy on the half way line in the last minute when the ball needs to be launched look at Dortmund the other night good footballing team had to resort to plan b and launch it paid off. Ac scored again today! over to you BrendanOriginally posted by Glenn Hysen
Posted from Est1892.co.uk App for AndroidComment
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Good ****ing Christ
If people want to go overboard at least let it be about the whole season rather than isolating an individual result, it's a ****ing away draw
Like blood on ironComment
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WOW its ****ing depressing how many fans can talk this result up.
A new low.Comment
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Originally posted by Red_Polo View PostIf people want to go overboard at least let it be about the whole season rather than isolating an individual result, it's a ****ing away draw
keep agreeing with you today.
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I've not seen anybody who says this is good enough.Originally posted by Shackanory View Post
What most people can see is that we are just at the beginning of a project that will take at least a couple of seasons to bear fruit. As Mr M says above, Rome wasn't built in a day...Comment
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Nobody is talking it up, nor happy with it.Originally posted by marksared View Post
Not everyone is slashing their wrists either. Just some of you.Oh I don't know.Comment
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