Rodgers to Reds: Enjoy pressure of title race
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, March 28, 2014
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers urged his players to stay calm and embrace the pressure of the English Premier League title race after their nervous 2-1 victory over Sunderland.
The Reds took a two-goal lead at Anfield in Wednesday's match thanks to Steven Gerrard's free-kick shortly before half-time and Daniel Sturridge's deflected curling effort moments after the interval.
Liverpool was not at its fluent best, though, and had to endure a tense final 14 minutes after Adam Johnson's corner was headed home by Ki Sung-yueng from close range.
But Rodgers said that his players will be able to handle the tension of the run-in after they climbed up to second place in the table.
Liverpool is now a point behind leader Chelsea, having also played 31 games, although Manchester City in third place is two points further back and has two games in hand.
"We have had a wonderful season. There is still a way to go, but the message is to keep believing," Rodgers said.
"There were long spells where we were very good. As the season goes on we will embrace the pressure and enjoy it. The pressure will be there, but the pressure is for ourselves.
"We have to keep calm, but it always gets hairy when it gets to 2-1 and it means so much to you."
Sunderland, meanwhile, remains third from bottom, three points from safety, but with a game in hand on the two sides immediately above it.
In the day's other game, West Ham United edged Hull City, which had goalkeeper Allan McGregor had been sent off in the 26th minute, 2-1 at Upton Park to end a run of three straight defeats and ease its relegation fears.
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