Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is "shocked" by the news Mario Balotelli is the Premier League's most abused player on social media.
A study completed by Kick It Out tallied over 8,000 discriminatory posts toward the Italian striker between August 2014 and March 2015, more than any other player in the division, per BBC Sport. A staggering 52 percent of these messages were considered racist.
Rodgers, who faced the press ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Aston Villa, is behind those trying to eliminate such abuse from the game, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo:
Much of the week's build-up has been dominated by the off-the-field antics of Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe . Both were photographed smoking a shisha pipe in the British press, reported by Andy Hunter of The Guardian. Sterling appeared in two separate sets of photos, while he was also snapped taking nitrous oxide prior to Liverpool's win over Newcastle United.
Rodgers has spoken to both players, but he wanted to play down the incidents reported by Tony Barrett of The Times:
More positively for Liverpool, Rodgers confirmed captain Steven Gerrard is ready to return after being sent off during the loss to United, per Barrett:
Pearce provided Rodgers' comment on Gerrard's Wembley experience:
Liverpool fans should also welcome defensive monster Martin Skrtel back after he received a ban for stamping on David De Gea when United visited Anfield:
Rodgers has suggested he will give striker Daniel Sturridge until the last possible moment to prove his fitness, as noted by Pearce:
The Reds head into Sunday's fixture having lost momentum in the Premier League's battle for fourth. Losses to Manchester United and Arsenal have placed Rodgers' team four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, but victory over Villa will provide the manager with his first shot at silverware.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet simply can't choose between two possible prizes, as highlighted by Pearce:
While the financial muscle of Champions League football is more important to the club's long-term ambitions, Rodgers needs to land a trophy soon. Questions will begin to swirl if he doesn't head into his fourth season at Anfield with a shiny prize in the club's cabinet.
Beating Villa—a side who have improved under new boss Tim Sherwood—is the next step to completing this goal.
Arsenal take on Reading in the other semi-final, meaning the Wembley showpiece could provide an opportunity to seek revenge on the Gunners for the recent 4-1 whooping at the Emirates.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1E9KFnj
via IFTTT April 17, 2015 at 07:01AM
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