Gerrard urges faith in coach after fresh failure

SUNDERLAND - Agence France-Presse

Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard reacts to a missed opportunity against Sunderland. REUTERS photo

Steven Gerrard has pleaded for patience after Liverpool’s worst start to a league season for over a century. A late Luis Suarez equalizer earned a 1-1 Premier League draw at Sunderland, but it’s the first time since 1911-12 the Merseyside club has failed to earn a victory in its opening four games of a campaign.

Manager Brendan Rodgers, appointed in pre-season after Liverpool sacked Anfield great Kenny Dalglish, faces a huge task to turn round seasons of decline just three months into his fledgling reign, with the Reds clear of the bottom three only on goal difference in the table. The team failed to earn a win on the field after arguably its greatest ever victory off it this week as, after years of campaigning, the fans were finally absolved of any blame by an independent panel for the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which led to the death of 96 Liverpool fans. Gerrard feels the club is heading in the right direction under their new young manager, and the Liverpool skipper has asked for time for the Northern Irishman to put his principles into practice. “It depends how
quickly we get the message the manager is trying to give,” said England midfielder Gerrard.
“We know it won’t happen overnight, but you saw today that it won’t be long before it does.” Liverpool warmed-up in training shirts honoring the 96 who lost their lives at the ill-fated FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham forest 23 years ago.