‘Football has short memories’ says Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers of calls for change

After a plane flew over Anfield on Saturday with a sign reading 'Rodgers out - Rafa in' Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers laughed it off and said 'you can't do anything about it'.

Brendan Rodgers reacts during his side's win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday at Anfield. Peter Powell / EPA / May 2, 2015

Brendan Rodgers claimed Steven Gerrard will prove irreplaceable after the Liverpool captain marked his penultimate appearance at Anfield with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers.

Gerrard missed a penalty in the closing stages but recovered his composure in time to head home his 184th goal for the club in the 87th minute, lifting him up to fifth place in Liverpool’s list of all-time goalscorers.

The 34-year-old has now just one more home game to go before he ends his 16-year first-team career at Liverpool to join LA Galaxy in the United States and Rodgers was quick to pay tribute to his departing star.

“A lot of players when they miss a big penalty their game goes and their confidence goes. He is the total opposite. He is one of a unique group of players that when they need to respond, they do,” Rodgers said.

“It is a world-class talent. There is a very, very small group of players in that bracket where in the big games they score the big goals and make the big contributions and he has done that throughout his career.

“He missed a penalty and you think it may go against us but there was no one more determined to make up for it.”

Former England captain Gerrard was substituted to a standing ovation shortly after scoring the goal that keeps Liverpool fifth in the Premier League and which also certainly consigns QPR to relegation.

“It was brilliant to get it at the Kop end as well. A real special moment for him,” added Rodgers.

“You can see he is still contributing at this level. There were people behind me shouting to get him off. I knew if you keep him on, you have every chance of getting a goal.

“This is a guy that you cannot replace. He is an incredible talent. It will probably only be when he is gone that people will recognise what a talent he is.”

Liverpool’s recent run of one win in five Premier League games and defeat in the FA Cup semi-finals to Aston Villa had increased the pressure on Rodgers.

But he laughed off a stunt before kick-off which saw a plane fly over Anfield dragging a banner proclaiming: “Rodgers out - Rafa in” in support of former manager Rafa Benitez.

“I thought it was Rafa’s agent. Football has short memories. We were sat here last year nearly winning the league and never got planes flying over,” Rodgers said.

“You can’t do anything about it. I am very fortunate and privileged to work here at Liverpool.

“As I’ve said before, there will be many names linked with this job because of the size and the scale of the job that is to be undertaken here.

“But I am hugely honoured every single day of my life and I will continue to be, however long it lasts.”

Liverpool’s victory was over-shadowed by the death on Friday night of the wife of QPR defender Rio Ferdinand – Rebecca Ellison – from cancer at the age of 34.

“It does put things into perspective,” said QPR manager Chris Ramsey, whose side had cancelled out a Philippe Coutinho goal through Leroy Fer’s volley before Nedum Onuoha was sent off and Gerrard struck three minutes from time.

“There is a very solemn atmosphere in the dressing room for both reasons. The players have run their socks off and come away with nothing.”

QPR now need to win their final three games to have any chance of staying up.

“The fans can see what the players are trying to do,” Ramsey said.

“We are not going out with a whimper. We hope we can muster up three more fantastic performances to get those nine points and make the last few weeks interesting.”

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