Article

Rodgers proud despite Liverpool exit

22 February 2013 00:37

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was proud of his team after their 3-1 win over Zenit, despite seeing them eliminated from the Europa League.

The Reds went into the second leg of the last-32 clash 2-0 down on aggregate after defeat in Russia and needed four goals on Thursday to progress after Hulk scored early on at Anfield.

Two Luis Suarez free kicks and Joe Allen's close-range strike gave Liverpool hope but they ultimately fell short on the away goals rule - a fact that did not detract from Rodgers' assessment of his players' performance.

"I'm very proud of the club and the players tonight," he told reporters.

"To come back from a three-goal deficit and put in that effort and quality and character into the game was just an absolutely phenomenal show.

"It was a fantastic night but unfortunately we probably lost the tie over there (in Russia). At this level to have to score that many goals and for us to nearly do it, it gives me great pride."

The Northern Irishman lamented referee's failure to award the hosts a penalty after Tomas Hubocan appeared to handle in the area in the second half.

"It's probably too soon after the game but it certainly was a penalty, I think everybody could see that," he said.

"We had momentum throughout the game and it looked a clear penalty, it wasn't one that there was any debate on - especially when you've got a fourth official, or fifth official standing behind the goal and looking clear at it."

Rodgers refused, however, to blame Jamie Carragher for his side's exit, after the veteran defender's weak back-pass allowed Hulk to score the vital away goal.

"There's no blame. It's probably the first mistake I've seen him make since I've been at the football club and that includes every day in training," he said.

Info

Liverpool

W W D W D

3 - 1

Zenit

W D L W D

Competition

Half-time: 2 - 1
Full-time: 3 - 1

On aggregate: 3 - 3

Venue: Anfield (Liverpool)
Attendance: 42735

Goals

	0 - 1	19' Hulk
L. Suárez 28'	1 - 1
J. Allen 43'	2 - 1
L. Suárez 59'	3 - 1

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
25	Pepe Reina
23	J. Carragher
2	G. Johnson
5	D. Agger
3	José Enrique
19	S. Downing
8	S. Gerrard
21	Lucas Leiva
24	J. Allen	43'
14	J. Henderson
7	L. Suárez	28' 59'
Coach: B. Rodgers

#	Player	Bookings
16	V. Malafeev
2	A. Anyukov
6	N. Lombaerts
14	T. Hubočan
13	Neto
25	S. Semak
10	Danny
15	R. Shirokov
27	I. Denisov	27'
28	A. Witsel
29	Hulk	19'
Coach: L. Spalletti

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
11	O. Assaidi for J. Henderson 60'
33	J. Shelvey for J. Allen 60'	66'
31	R. Sterling for S. Downing 84'
16	S. Coates
30	Suso
42	P. Gulácsi
47	A. Wisdom

#	Player	Bookings
4	D. Criscito for N. Lombaerts 46'
20	V. Faizulin for Danny 46'
21	M. Rodić for S. Semak 85'
3	Bruno Alves
9	A. Bukharov
11	A. Kerzhakov
30	Y. Zhevnov

Friday 24 May

11:22	First goal bittersweet for Azpilicueta
11:06	La Liga Preview: Real Sociedad v Real Madrid
10:54	La Liga Preview: Pressure on for Euro spots
10:46	Ligue 1 Preview: Victory only hope for Troyes
10:40	MLS preview: Second place up for grabs
10:37	Coentrao heading for Real exit
10:26	Coppa Italia Preview: Roma v Lazio
10:02	Ligue 1 Preview: Lorient v PSG
08:56	Malaga win was catalyst, says Klopp
07:10	Milan finalise Zapata switch
07:01	Montella braced for Jovetic departure
06:20	Simeone will not block Falcao exit
05:58	Van Gaal talks down Netherlands´ chances
05:49	Coupet doubts Monaco´s potential
05:47	Man City edge Chelsea in thrilling friendly
05:41	Torres wants Mourinho at Chelsea
04:57	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Atletico Mineiro snatch late draw
04:49	Galliani dismisses Berlusconi row reports
04:37	San Lorenzo renew Coloccini pursuit
04:29	Benteke sparks fears of Villa exit
04:27	Weidenfeller: We can be heroes
04:18	Injured Messi called up by Argentina
04:13	Cleverley taking inspiration from Spain
03:16	Kellermann proud of resilient Wolfsburg
03:05	Robben hails dominant Germany
02:49	Europe the benchmark for Zaccheroni´s Japan
01:39	Osieck backs Schwarzer to shine

Thursday 23 May

23:59	Van der Gun shoots Utrecht to away win
23:39	Firmino double fires Hoffenheim to win
21:41	Davies hails ´great´ debut season
21:17	Foster happy with eighth-placed finish
20:15	Wickham eyeing first team
19:44	UEFA to announce Europa League incentive
19:31	Fonte looking to hit the ground running
19:21	Hodgson keen to hand Jones defensive role
18:43	Onuoha: Keep the faith with QPR owners
18:09	Karagounis praises Fulham fans
18:07	McDermott: Byram keen on Leeds stay
18:02	Martinez´s Wigan future to be decided next week
17:47	Rodriguez: I think I will leave Porto
17:44	Erbes ´relaxed´ ahead of Newell´s clash
17:20	CSL Preview: Shandong Luneng eye top spot
17:18	Kwakman to leave Groningen
16:45	Werder Bremen complete Petersen signing
16:28	Mancini Inter return is possible, says Moratti
16:20	Baines: Everton must progress without Moyes
16:07	Nicollin: Cabella worth 100 million euros
15:56	Demel proud of West Ham´s home record
15:49	Debuchy: Premier League is difficult
15:21	Pazzini to miss start of next season
15:09	Ferdinand extends Manchester United deal
14:23	Pulis thanks fans after Stoke departure
14:07	Berlin to host 2015 UEFA Champions League final
14:04	Werder face Dutt wait
13:43	Finke appointed Cameroon boss
13:38	Wilshere keen to improve after comeback season
13:08	Vieira excited by MLS franchise
13:04	Rodgers wants quick decision on Carroll future
12:55	Kagawa wants European success
11:21	Mata hopes for Mourinho arrival
10:44	Welbeck disappointed with goals tally
10:36	UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
10:23	Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini
09:53	Ramos: Bale is ´Real Madrid-quality´
08:59	Hart urges City to go forward
05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Wednesday 22 May

20:56	Mourinho and Ronaldo given two-match bans
20:48	AFC Champions League Wrap: Lekhwiya hold on to progress
20:37	Thomas, Jara released by West Brom
20:16	Martinez to decide future
20:04	Pearce: Championship will not hold back McCarthy
19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini and Malaga to part company
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

Related