Will Steven Gerrard Play for Liverpool Against Real Madrid

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted he could rest Steven Gerrard for the club’s Champions League match with Real Madrid on Tuesday. Liverpool dropped 3-0 to European champions Madrid at Anfield last month and require a good result if they are to help their improvement from FIFA 15 Coins Group B as they are presently tied on 3 points with FC Basel and minnows Ludogorets Razgrad. Reds’ skipper Gerrard has been a focal point all week after he accepted he may not be at the club next season and, though Rodgers claimed he wished to maintain the 34-year-old, he may rest him for the massive game at the Bernabeu with Chelsea up next weekend.

“I do not see it as a bet. This week and these matches against the likes of Real Madrid I see as a fantastic opportunity for the squad — you put them out there and you place your rely upon them to complete,” he is cited as saying in the Mirror.”In Steven’s case, if he is performing on Saturday I have to examine what is the priority for him and us. If he performed against Newcastle and didn’t perform tomorrow night you could state that was the concern.”Him and I have spoken about that. 3 big matches, Newcastle, Madrid and then Chelsea. I need to look at a number of gamers to look at the games we want them to play in.

“But I have also got to look at (the fact) we brought in other gamers. And there is responsibility. But there is no doubt that our priorities are the Premier League and the Champions League, and always in that order.”Liverpool have come pressurized after a slow start in the Premier League and their European form hasn’t helped either with only three points from their 3 games. Rodgers, however, is ready to try out his team to their limits.”I need to find the options. If this is a defining match for me, then excellent. Whatever the result, I will be refocused and hungrier to win the next game,” he added. “For me, now, if we would like to develop we need to make sure we are in the top four but we also want to qualify from this group and we will never know if these gamers can perform if we do not place them in the group.

“I am placing my belief in these players to function. That is not being practical. It is why you have a team to come and get outcomes. I see that we have invested a great deal of money on gamers to come in and give them an opportunity to perform.If at the conclusion of this period of games they haven’t performed, they can never state they haven’t been provided an opportunity. For me, whether it is Real Madrid, Newcastle or Chelsea, all I will do as the manager is give them that opportunity to perform. We have got three high level games in a week and I have to think about that in preparation for the weekend. I also understand that we have to have a team that can come here and win and that is what we want to do.”