No worries over Gerrard - Rodgers
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he has "no concerns whatsoever" about Reds captain Steven Gerrard's performance level.
Gerrard, who retired from international duty over the summer after skippering England during their poor World Cup campaign in Brazil, struggled to make an impact in his club's 3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at West Ham on Saturday.
The 34-year-old midfielder has played every minute for Liverpool so far this season - in which they have lost three of their opening five league games - and since last weekend's match there have been questions over his ability to still handle the demands upon him.
But, asked at a press conference ahead of Tuesday's Capital One Cup third-round home clash with Middlesbrough whether he had any concerns about the standard of Gerrard's display against West Ham, Rodgers said: "No concerns whatsoever, no.
"He is a brilliant player for us, really talented.
"It was a team performance overall that just wasn't quite up to scratch."
He added: "I feel we have managed his recovery really well in the last two seasons.
"Even when Steven was playing international football, I think if you look at his numbers and games and minutes he has played, you'll see in the last couple of seasons that it is as good as it has been in his career.
"He is obviously at the age where we will look at him individually as a player.
"We want him to be involved in our big games because of his experiences and his talent, and we'll always taper that recovery for him to allow him to be at the very best he can be."
Rodgers currently has the likes of Glen Johnson, Jon Flanagan, Emre Can, Joe Allen and Daniel Sturridge unavailable, doubts over Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho and Saturday's derby meeting with Everton to think about.
And he has indicated some young players may be brought into a changed matchday squad for visit of Championship outfit Boro.
But he neither confirmed nor denied whether Gerrard would be involved in the tie.
And regarding his team's disappointing start to the season, he said at the press conference on Monday: "We just need to get back to doing what we do best - our pressing and patterns of pressure.
"And, with the injured ones we have, I probably need to look at retaining a system for maybe a longer period.
"Also, our passing disappointed me at the weekend - we played arguably more long passes than West Ham, and that is something you, having watched us for two years, would never say.
"We just need to get back to that way of working which we know can bring us success."
Meanwhile, Rodgers has chosen not to respond publicly to comments made by ex-Liverpool defender Daniel Agger "out of respect" for the Denmark international.
Agger, who left Anfield last month to join Brondby after eight years with the Merseysiders, has been quoted as telling Danish reporters: "Let me put it this way, the manager (Rodgers) and me were perhaps not on the same page in all of last season. For most of last season at least.
"There was much between us, and for me it was just enough. I felt that he didn't appreciate the things I could contribute. When I feel that, then it's time to move on."
Asked about that on Monday, Rodgers said: "I only saw that this morning. I have nothing really to say on it.
"I think Dan gave his reasons for leaving when he left and we wished him well when he went.
"Out of respect to him, I don't really want to say any more on it. We wished him well and he is a Brondby player now - he has moved on."
Middlesbrough midfielder Dean Whitehead will miss the trip through suspension.
The 32-year-old former Oxford, Sunderland and Stoke player will sit out Tuesday night's third-round tie at Anfield as he starts a three-game ban for his sending-off in Saturday's 4-0 Sky Bet Championship victory over Brentford.
However, defender Daniel Ayala will return to the squad after being unavailable at the weekend because of a one-game suspension and defender Jonathan Woodgate will hope for a first start since the 3-0 win at Oldham in the first round of the competition on August 12 after being handed a seat on the bench for the second successive Saturday following his recovering from a hamstring problem.
But keeper Tomas Mejias (back) remains on the sidelines, as do long-terms absentees Damia Abella and Muzzy Carayol (both knee) and Rhys Williams (Achilles).
Source: PA
