Liverpool // Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has outlined his determination to bring trophies to Anfield as he prepares to celebrate his 100th Premier League game in charge of the club with a Merseyside derby away to city rivals Everton on Saturday.
Rodgers went close to ending Liverpool’s 24-year-wait to become English champions for a 19th time when they finished second in the Premier League to Manchester City last season.
RELATED
– Steven Gerrard wants to celebrate 35th birthday with an FA Cup final for Liverpool
– Philippe Coutinho can fill Luis Suarez vacuum, says Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers
The title looks to be beyond Liverpool this term as they are currently seventh in the table, 15 points behind leaders Chelsea.
But they are in the last 16 of the FA Cup and in the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Now the 42-year-old Rodgers wants some silverware to reflect the progress he believes Liverpool have made since he replaced the iconic figure of Kenny Dalglish as manager in June 2012.
“To follow in the steps of so many incredible managers who have been here before me is a huge privilege,” said Rodgers.
“I have loved my life here and I only hope I can bring success to the club by winning trophies.
“Whatever point I leave here, whenever that time comes, hopefully I will have left something people can be proud of. But this first two-and-a-half years have been a wonderful experience,” the Northern Irishman added.
“I think from when I came in to now, the club has moved forward in the identity of the football and now over the next couple of years we have to go and rubber stamp that by getting some silverware.”
Rodgers could barely have asked for a higher profile game to mark his latest managerial landmark and takes Liverpool across Stanley Park to Goodison Park defending an unbeaten personal record in the Merseyside derby.
Liverpool were denied victory in August by Everton defender Phil Jagielka’s last-minute goal in a 1-1 draw.
But Liverpool are unbeaten in the fixture in nine games stretching back to October, 2010 and approach Saturday’s latest instalment having just one of their last 13 matches against all opponents.
“They (derby matches) are incredible games to be involved in as a manager and a player,” said Rodgers.
“Whether it’s at Anfield or at Goodison they are tough games. But we are playing well and arriving into the game creating opportunities that we weren’t at the beginning of the season.
“As a team we are operating at a really good level, so whether it’s home or away there’s a real confidence that we can go and win a game and that maybe wasn’t the case at the beginning of the season when we were still trying to find our way and solutions to win.
“But certainly now we are in a real good moment.”
The same couldn’t be said of Everton, who are 12th in the table.
However, they stopped their slide towards the relegation places with a first win in seven league games at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Now manager Roberto Martinez is looking to build on that to end Everton’s barren run in one of English football’s oldest rivalries on a day when Everton will unveil a plaque in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
“Liverpool have found a way of performing and they are really enjoying a good run,” said Martinez.
“We feel in a similar situation in terms of the confidence of the win we had at the weekend and we have been unbeaten in five (games in all competitions),” the Spaniard added.
“We want to make it our derby, we are playing at Goodison and we can’t wait to play well.”
Liverpool, for whom captain Steven Gerrard will make his final derby appearance before moving to LA Galaxy, will give late fitness checks to Lazar Markovic (back) and Lucas (thigh).
Everton are without Steven Pienaar (knee) and Leon Osman (foot).
English Premier League fixtures (in UAE time)
Saturday
Tottenham v Arsenal, 4.45pm
Aston Villa v Chelsea, 7pm
Leicester City v Crystal Palace, 7pm
Manchester City v Hull City, 7pm
QPR v Southampton, 7pm
Swansea v Sunderland, 7pm
Everton v Liverpool, 9.30pm
Sunday
Burnley v West Brom, 4pm
Newcastle v Stoke City, 6.05pm
West Ham v Man United, 8.15pm
Follow us at our new home on Twitter @NatSportUAE