Brendan Rodgers, Jordan Henderson Say Focus, Composure Keys For Liverpool

Jordan Henderson and Vincent Kompany Brendan Rodgers and Jordan Henderson highlight “composure” and “focus” as Liverpool’s keys to victory in its upcoming game against Manchester City.

In separate interviews Monday, Liverpool manager Rodgers and midfielder Henderson touched on similar themes when discussing the Reds’ pre- and in-game approach to Sunday’s big test.

“My only thought is on the next training session — I need to prepare the team now and we’ll have a good week’s work,” Rodgers told LiverpoolFC.com. “We’re really looking forward to going to Anfield.

“The atmosphere will be magnificent. We’ve just got to go and play our game and keep that composure and calmness that we’ve been playing with. If we can do that, hopefully we can get three points.”

Henderson echoed both Rodgers and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who preached the gospel of calmness following the Reds’ 2-1 win at West Ham last Sunday.

“We’ve got to concentrate, keep our focus and keep approaching games like we have been,” Henderson said, according to LiverpoolFC.com. “We are high on confidence. But we continue to work hard on the training ground and in games. That’s the most important thing.

“No matter what circumstances you are in the game, if you keep working then your just rewards will come.

Liverpool lost its last meeting with Manchester City, falling 2-1 on Dec. 26. The Reds took the lead in the 25th minute but conceded twice before halftime. Many Reds agree that Liverpool’s performance that day was good enough to have earned a win or draw.

Perhaps that’s why the now-surging Reds are focusing on that mental aspect of the game ahead of the season’s biggest contest to date.