LONDON (AFP)
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that his team were
stunned by their 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion but is
adamant there is no reason to panic.
Brendan Rodgers' first Premier League match as Liverpool manager
on Saturday turned into a dispiriting experience for everyone
connected with the club, as Albion romped to a shock victory
after Reds defender Daniel Agger was sent off.
But Gerrard felt the one-sided nature of the score was harsh on
Liverpool, who missed several good chances before falling behind
to a stunning strike from Zoltan Gera.
And the England midfielder believes Rodgers is already beginning
to make a positive impact on a club looking to rebuild after
their worst league finish for 18 years.
"The feeling after was one of total shock with the result. It was
never a 3-0 game," Gerrard told local newspaper the Liverpool
Echo.
"I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn't
work out that way. In football you can be left feeling hard done
by.
"It's not the start we wanted but it's no time for panic. It's
only the first game and it was one bad day at the office.
"We've got to look at the bigger picture. There's been so much
hope around the place and rightly so."
Gerrard knows it is vital that he and other senior players like
Jamie Carragher and Jose Reina ensure that the rest of the squad
keep their composure after such a dismal start to the Rodgers
era.
He will remind his team-mates that they have the ideal chance to
bounce back in Thursday's Europa League tie against Scottish club
Hearts at Tynecastle.
"After a 3-0 defeat everyone is going to be concerned," Gerrard
said. "It's important that the likes of myself and the other
experienced players take responsibility for a poor defeat.
"We have to put it behind us. We've got to dust ourselves down
and bounce back against Hearts (in the Europa League) on Thursday
night. We have to react in the right manner and look to put
things right in the coming games."
Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has dismissed
speculation about his future at Anfield by insisting he is
determined to fight for his place.
Adam, signed last year by former manager Kenny Dalglish, has lost
his place to fit-again Lucas Leiva and new signing Joe Allen, but
the Scotland international said: "I am happy at Liverpool and why
would I leave after a year? There is no point.
"I am open enough to say I have had a conversation with the
manager but for me I'm not going anywhere.
"I am playing with some of the best players in the world, I have
a good coach, good manager, and I am learning every day from what
he is doing. I want to play this year and hopefully I get the
opportunity to do that."
