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Brendan Rodgers welcomes the challenges of Liverpool’s North American Tour

By on July 17, 2012

By Kevin Koczwara, in Boston

BOSTON – Brendan Rodgers’ first press conference as Liverpool manager on the team’s preseason trip to North America was short and small. There was limited press in the hotel room where the press conference took place — four local journalists, including myself, and the LFC TV crew. That doesn’t mean Rodgers isn’t ready to put in the work or that he’s not taking this trip seriously. The small press turnout just means he didn’t have to answer any transfer speculation questions. Instead, the Liverpool manager was able to focus on answering questions about the squad he has and the task of molding that squad over the next few weeks.

“First and foremost it’s about our fitness level. We certainly won’t be up to speed in terms of technically and tactically purely on the basis that we’ve only been back a few weeks,” Rodgers told the media. “At this stage of the preseason we have a periodisation program that takes us through the preseason and we’re still in the preparation phase. Ultimately it’s about trying to improve our fitness level.”

Rodgers’ first game in charge of Liverpool will be against Major League Soccer side Toronto FC at the Roger’s Centre. Toronto has been one of the poorer sides in MLS, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t be ready. TFC let go of its manager Aron Winter recently and is led by former Plymouth Argyle player and manager Paul Mariner. Toronto has found success under the Englishman since he took over the coaching duties from Winter, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps and New England Revolution in its last two games.

Second up on the agenda for Rodgers is Roma, also with a new manager, at Fenway Park here in Boston. Finally the Reds head down to Baltimore, Md. to take on Tottenham. All three games pose different challenges for Liverpool. Toronto will play fast and hard, which is to be expected from an MLS side. Tottenham, also transitioning to a new, young manager – Andres Villas-Boas – will bring a Premier League challenge that will test the progress being made by Liverpool under Rodgers. And Roma will bring a more European style and more defensive game than any of the other teams on the tour.

“All the games are very much different,” said Rodgers. “We are playing an MLS side, which will be fantastic. We have Roma, very much a European team and top European side. Alongside that we obviously play Tottenham, a Barclays Premier League team and one of our rivals for the coming season. We have three fantastic games and I’m looking forward to playing in the stadiums and in front of the supporters, which will be great.”

Fabio Borini will join the squad next week

Fabio Borini was included in the Italy side that lost in the European Championship final to Spain, and after signing with Liverpool he was offered the same four-week vacation time that other international players were given after they returned from Euro duties. The former Roma forward declined the offer and instead will join the team next week when the England players arrive in Boston. He would have joined the team August 1, one day before Liverpool begins play in the Europa League.

“[Borini] will come out next week with the England players,” said Rodgers. “He was obviously involved with Italy all the way through to the final, giving him time off like the others, four weeks, he was due to come back the first of August, but he made it very clear when he came over [to sign with the club] that he wanted to get back training with the group, so we made an agreement that he will come out next week.”

Stay tuned to thisisanfield.com for more exclusives throughout the North America tour.



About Kevin Koczwara

Kevin is the news editor for a small newspaper in central Massachusetts, an editor and co-founder of The Soccer Guys, and a contributor for Worcester Magazine, KCKRS.com and NESN.com. Member of the North American Soccer Reporters. Follow him on Twitter @kkoczwara.

  • rubyrm

    Good on you Borini. Now that is commitment to the club. Can’t say much about the others who sat on the bench at the Euros and came back home much earlier and still holidaying. It is disgraceful. Borini YNWA. Welcome To LFC

    • Justin

      That’s a bit unfair, after a long season. They are allowed to have a holiday and spend time with their family. Being on international duty isn’t really a holiday, even with not playing games, still involved in the preparations for their country teams.

      I have absolutely no problem with reina taking an extended break. He has earnt it. And hopefully he will return in a better condition and he can be back to his best.

      • rubyrm

        No problems with Reina. I meant JH and SD. After the fat salaries they received last season in return for zero results, they sure need a good long vacation. Recommended yes. Commitment No.

        • Tim Jones

          Apart from a handul of performamnces – and IU’m talking abiut 3 or 4 each – both of them have been risible

          All those fans still bitter about Kenny’s axing should take a long hard look at these two and see how they utterly failed to repay the faith he had in them

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com This Is Anfield

      Yeah, how dare they take the RECOMMENDED four week break that ALL sports people on this planet have each year. After playing in over 40 first team games in a season and training every day at the Euros. Disgrace.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Fergus-Ong/717488265 Fergus Ong

    “And Roma will bring a more European style and more defensive game than any of the other teams on the tour”

    Not true, buddy. Their new manager Zdanek Zeman (who also happens to be an old manager of theirs) is known for reckless attacking football. Just cos they’re Italian doesn’t mean they’re defensive aye. :p

    • http://www.thesoccerguysonline.com Kevin Koczwara

      The problem Zeman faces is in the squad he inherited. It’s not built for relentless attacking. It’s built around midfield play and ball possession. Also, that defense at Roma needs some re-building, it would behoove him to focus on defending first and getting a good shape from his team.

  • Redblooded Male

    It’s not that Borini is overly committed, he’s just eager to play against his ex employers & teammates of Roma @ Fenway Park July 25th. I’ve also had a change of heart, & hope Dempsey is recruited by then, having jogged my memory watching his 2011-12 goals & assists. who else outside the top 6 would you guys prefer? If not Dempsey, then Chung Yung Lee or Bryan Ruiz maybe? Both class

    P.S. TIA do you know how much revenue U.S. tour will generate?

    • Marty

      Bryan Ruiz is an ex player and was sold for a reason. No consistency and not prolific enough for Liverpool at that time. Dempsey on the other hand is quality and is at a stage in his career where a move to a big club with a big history will get the very best out of him. Clint Dempsey at his best is something the world is yet to see. In terms footballing ability Dempsey is one of the best players in the league. In terms of consistency he is one of the best in Europe.

  • Zimmy

    Why aren’t LFC mentioning the elephant in the room? i.e Andy Carroll. No player deserves to be left hanging out to dry alone like this. He’s at the mercy of the reptiles in the media, with their lazy ‘journalism’ and made up stories, whilst LFC offer no public support. Would Shanks, Paisley etc have allowed this to happen?I think not. Very shoddy behaviour on LFC’s part, and shows to me that this new PR person is out of his depth.

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com This Is Anfield

      Why would they “mention” internal affairs of a high-profile player? Liverpool FC should conduct business behind closed doors. Not tell the World.

  • Zimmy

    Why aren’t LFC mentioning the elephant in the room? i.e Andy Carroll. No player deserves to be left hanging out to dry alone like this. He’s at the mercy of the reptiles in the media, with their lazy ‘journalism’ and made up stories, whilst LFC offer no public support. Would Shanks, Paisley etc have allowed this to happen?I think not. Very shoddy behaviour on LFC’s part, and shows to me that this new PR person is out of his depth.