Matchday With The Manager: Rodgers On Liverpool, Vardy & Maddison

Brendan Rodgers is searching for another 'really good performance' from his Leicester City side when they take on the Premier League champions at King Power Stadium on Saturday (12:30pm kick-off GMT).

2021-02-13T07:00:00.000Z

by Sam Jones

Published

13 Feb, 2021

Matchday With The Manager: Rodgers On Liverpool, Vardy & Maddison

Brendan Rodgers is searching for another 'really good performance' from his Leicester City side when they take on the Premier League champions at King Power Stadium on Saturday (12:30pm kick-off GMT).

Sam Jones

2021-02-13T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: Rodgers On Liverpool, Vardy & Maddison

Brendan Rodgers is searching for another 'really good performance' from his Leicester City side when they take on the Premier League champions at King Power Stadium on Saturday (12:30pm kick-off GMT).

Sam Jones

2021-02-13T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: Rodgers On Liverpool, Vardy & Maddison

Brendan Rodgers is searching for another 'really good performance' from his Leicester City side when they take on the Premier League champions at King Power Stadium on Saturday (12:30pm kick-off GMT).

Sam Jones

2021-02-13T07:00:00.000Z

Matchday With The Manager: Rodgers On Liverpool, Vardy & Maddison

Brendan Rodgers is searching for another 'really good performance' from his Leicester City side when they take on the Premier League champions at King Power Stadium on Saturday (12:30pm kick-off GMT).

Sam Jones

2021-02-13T07:00:00.000Z

Leicester have produced some of their best displays against the so-called 'big six' this season, beating Manchester City 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium in September and also registering a victory at Arsenal for the first time in 47 years.

Recent meetings with Liverpool, including the reverse fixture earlier in 2020/21, may have swung the way of Jürgen Klopp's men, but Rodgers says City have been working hard in the lead up to the third vs. fourth clash to try reverse that trend, focusing on their own talents.

Both teams lost their last home top-flight fixture and while Liverpool have not taken to the field since defeat by Manchester City at Anfield, the Foxes progressed into the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup in midweek, courtesy of a 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

"I don’t think it will define where we finish but it’s the next game and it’s against the champions and it’s going to be a really tough game for us," the 48-year-old told the media during his virtual pre-match press conference at LCFC Training Ground on Friday afternoon. "But it’s another game to measure our progress.

"We've had a few games where we've had good games and others not so. The game (vs. Liverpool) last season at home we started the game very well, the first 25 minutes of the game we were excellent.

"I think what we've done is give away poor goals in some of the games against Liverpool. So if we can cut those out and play with the aggression that we have been and play with the quality that we have been, then we hope that it could be another really good performance against a top team.

"You look at your strengths and you look at your qualities and you always have to be aware of the qualities of the other team. Liverpool, even though they have players missing, they are an outstanding squad with outstanding players.

"We're playing at home. Let’s focus on our own strengths, which is being aggressive, not being passive in the game and using our talent. You know when you play in these games against Liverpool, you have to run and run and run and that will be key for us tomorrow."

Foxes forward Jamie Vardy started Wednesday's cup victory over Brighton, making his first start since returning from hernia surgery, and could play another important role on Sunday.

His wonderstrike against Saturday's opponents at King Power Stadium in February 2016 is fondly remembered by the Blue Army as a highlight of the recent battles between the two sides. Rodgers paid tribute to his talismanic No.9, who is once again City's top scorer in the Premier League so far this term, with 11 goals to his name in 19 appearances.

"If you look at the player he is today and I know at the time £1M probably seemed a lot for a player who was playing Non-League football," the Northern Irishman began, reflecting on his time at the Club as a whole.

"But if you look at what he's given to Leicester, in terms of not just his goals but his personality and his path has created so many aspirations for so many other players. So he's been a real figure of aspiration.

"His legacy here will be his journey, but also what he's given on the pitch as well. He's up there with the very best strikers in European football. So, to have him back, we wanted to give him some game time (against Brighton) to get his legs moving again.

"He's always fit and raring to go, especially in the big games. You can't replace him like for like because his story, the path that he's been on and what he gives, it's unique really. I can't see another player like him in terms of where he's come from.

"He's still very fit, he's still very strong, you see him in the games, he's running, his movement, his hunger is still there. When you've seen him play this year when he's fit and ready, he's a real threat, so we'll continue to have that.

"He's a really effective striker at the highest level. I'm so happy that he's at the level that he's at currently and that will continue."

Another Foxes player to have enjoyed a successful season to date is James Maddison, with the 24-year-old earning plaudits for his impressive performances in midfield.

A sum of nine goals and 10 assists in all competitions is worthy reward for his hard work on the training pitch, according to Rodgers, who is confident the England international will continue to improve as his experience of playing at the highest level grows.

"He's a fabulous player," Rodgers said of Maddison. "It's great to work with players that are driven and want to be the best that they can be and he doesn't shy away from it. He has a clear objective, he understands the commitment needed, he's taken on that responsibility to be the best player that he can and to learn and develop.

"He's knows the areas we've highlighted and it's been great to see his improvement on and off the pitch over this last couple of years. I've always said he's a real joy to work with, a special talent, a wonderful personality and the beauty is, that at his age, he's only going to get better.

"Another few years more at this level gives him more confidence and more experience at the level and of course if you have that, you'll play better. It's been great to see him develop.

"What we've talked about with James and those forward-thinking players is that it is about being efficient, you have to add numbers to your game. You can't be a creative player and go through the season with only a couple of goals and a couple of assists.

"The level that we want to get to, you have to produce. These players are so hungry for that and if you have that hunger in life to succeed like these guys then of course you see that development. You see how how he's playing and the consistency.

"He had a few niggles early on in the season but he's over them now and he's either creating or scoring goals virtually every game he plays so I'm delighted for him."

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