Rodgers Jokes: Liverpool are better without Gerrard

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was beaming with delight after last night’s stunning 5-0 win over Spurs and claimed he and the players can start dreaming of winning the Premier League title.

Rodgers led his Liverpool side, who were missing Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard, to an emphatic victory at White Hart Lane. Goals from Luis Suarez, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan delivered Tottenham’s second humiliating defeat in three weeks.

“It was the complete performance,” Rodgers said. “My job was to develop the style of football while moving the club forward, and that’s what we’ve tried to do. Obviously you dream. I didn’t come here to be fourth, third or second. Eventually you want to win.”

Rodgers also singled out his stand-in captain for the day, Suarez, after the Uruguayan’s double sent him to 17 goals in 11 matches this season.

“Luis has captained one of the most iconic clubs in European football in Ajax so it’s not new to him,” Rodgers said. “I wanted someone who could represent me and the club in that tunnel before we step on the pitch. If Luis is standing with the armband on, everyone knows this is a team who’s ready to go out and fight. I spoke to him a few days ago and told him it was an honour for him to do it, and he’s really enjoyed it. He’s relentless in his work, his quality and his goals were fantastic.”

And went on to congratulate Henderson, too, for his dominant attacking display.

“Jordan has been outstanding for me. I saw him play for England against France a few years ago and I felt sorry for him: he was a big talent, but the game just passed him by tactically. That wasn’t his fault.

“I’d always heard he had a brilliant attitude to learning. He is 6ft 1in, 23, physically very strong and technically strong. He’s a terrific player. Just needs confidence, constant work.”“It may be heresy but Liverpool were better without Gerrard.”