Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers urged his players to stay calm and embrace the pressure of the Premier League title race after their nervous 2-1 victory over Sunderland.
The side took a two-goal lead at Anfield in Wednesday’s match thanks to Steven Gerrard’s free-kick shortly before half-time and Daniel Sturridge’s deflected curling effort moments after the interval.
Liverpool were not at their fluent best, though, and had to endure a tense final 14 minutes after Adam Johnson’s corner was headed home by Ki Sung-yueng from close range.
But Rodgers said that his players will be able to handle the tension of the run-in after they climbed up to second place in the table.
Liverpool are now a point behind leaders Chelsea, having also played 31 games, although Manchester City in third place are two points further back and have two games in hand on those above them.
“We have had a wonderful season. There is still a way to go, but the message is to keep believing,” Rodgers said.
“There were long spells where we were very good. As the season goes on we will embrace the pressure and enjoy it. The pressure will be there, but the pressure is for ourselves.
“We have to keep calm, but it always gets hairy when it gets to 2-1 and it means so much to you.”
Rodgers also claimed that there is not the same expectancy at Liverpool as there is with the two other teams in the title race.
Liverpool have a much smaller squad and have not spent as much on players as their rivals, although the Northern Irishman acknowledged that their recent free-scoring form perhaps added to the tension against Sunderland.
“For us, there is not the expectancy, certainly this year,” he said.
“People looked at us and thought we would tail off. I think we need to reinforce the calmness.
“Manchester City, with the players they have and the money they spent, there would be the expectancy there, and Chelsea likewise.
“However, there is the whole perception that we are going to get three, four, five goals every game, but we knew we were going to have to be patient.
“Seven wins in a row in the Premier League is a huge credit to the players. I thought we showed great character and deserved the victory. We just have to keep chalking up the wins now.”
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet admitted that his players need to show more of the determination and discipline they displayed at Anfield if they are to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The club proved to be stubborn opponents and could even have claimed a point had John O’Shea’s late header from a corner gone in, but instead defeat left them three points adrift of safety.
“The game was set up for a big party for Liverpool – four or five goals and everyone celebrating after half an hour,” Poyet said.
“And as the game went on and on, they couldn’t score and we made it something special. The idea was always to stay in the game, not lose the shape, and believe in the system.
“It was the first time we had played 3-5-2, training four or five days. It is all new, but it shows when you understand the game a certain way, you can put teams under pressure. We need more of that.”
Poyet also urged his players to approach their next game against West Ham United as if they were facing one of the top teams in the league.
“All in all, it was an unexpected performance from Sunderland,” the Uruguayan said.
“We should be doing it every week. We don’t for some reason. Maybe we have to play West Ham like they are Real Madrid or Barcelona.”
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SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
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Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
