Rodgers demands more from deadly duo

Football | Barclays Premier League

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge can get even better after in-form strikers inspired the Reds to a 3-1 win against Crystal Palace. Suarez and Sturridge both scored within the opening 17 minutes before Steven Gerrard netted his 99th Premier League goal with a penalty before halftime at Anfield on Saturday.
Palace substitute Dwight Gayle got one back in the closing stages, but Liverpool easily held on for a win that took them one point clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of second placed Arsenal's trip to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Uruguay striker Suarez has 19 goals in his last 22 games, while England forward Sturridge has 19 in 24 games since joining in January, including eight in nine matches this season, and Rodgers was quick to praise their partnership.
"The two boys up front are as good as any in the league, so you know you're always going to be in with a chance with them," Rodgers said.
"There are not many better at combining. You can see the link-up that they have already. It was a really good performance by those two.
"They give you a real thrust and a real edge. If we're away from home and sometimes under the cosh, we counter-attack because we've got that pace and people willing to join in. It can be a real threat.
"If teams sit off and drop in that bit deeper, those are guys that are really clever in and around the box and can get goals.
"They were outstanding today. Those two occupy a back four on their own because of their movement and cleverness.
"When they get other players around them, they're a real threat. You saw the telepathic nature they have to play with each other today.
"For the team, it really bodes well for us going forward."
But Rodgers believes both Suarez and Sturridge are capable of even more prolific feats if Liverpool's midfield provides a more consistent supply of chances.
"I'm not the type of coach who only wants to win," he said.
"I worry about how the team plays and how we can control a game.
"In the final third of the pitch, it was hard to argue with the fact that we were outstanding - the movement, the combination play to arrive in there.
"But we've still got a lot of work to do behind that because the lack of control in the game was disappointing.
"Second half was nowhere near what we want it to be, but without playing great, we won the game and that was something that in the first season (of his reign) we were guilty of – playing ever so well but not getting the result."