Rodgers proud after emotional week

Brendan Rodgers praised Liverpool’s fans for their support during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland after an emotional week for the club.

The release of the Hillsborough report this week exonerated Liverpool fans of any wrongdoing in the tragedy which claimed 96 lives in 1989 during a FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest.

After a week of off-field drama, Liverpool continued their winless start to the season at the Stadium of Light, as Luis Suarez rescued a point for the club after Steven Fletcher’s opener.

“The players have been terrific,” Rodgers said. “It’s been a difficult week for the city and everything involved in it, and some of the players have been involved in the tragedy in terms of relatives.

“It’s been very emotional, but when you sign for Liverpool that’s part of the contract. You also sign an agreement with the fans, an emotional one, and that’s part of playing for Liverpool.

“The support we got from them was exceptional and they kept driving a young team on.

“We wanted to give hope for two reasons – for ourselves, because we have shown progress over the last few weeks, and to end the week for the supporters. It has been very difficult for them but it has been a good point all round.”

Rodgers also defended Suarez after the striker was deemed to have dived following a John O’Shea tackle in the first half.

Replays have since shown that contact on the Reds forward was made.

“I have not seen that (replays),” Rodgers said. “The only side I know is he is a real good guy, a wonderful football player and a very good man.

“He comes in and works very hard. I have not seen anything (bad). His finish was outstanding. He always causes problems, he’s had to play in a couple of positions, but I though overall he was outstanding.”

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill was happy with his team’s performance but was left to rue Suarez’s goal that gave them a share of the spoils.

“It was always going to be difficult with Liverpool searching for that equalising goal,” O’Neill said.

“Not many in the stadium would say that they didn’t deserve it.

“We gave the ball away a little bit in the second half and I think that is something we must improve on.

“When we’re under pressure in games we need to be able to take the sting out of matches.

“It was disappointing to concede the goal, especially at a point where we were just getting back into the game in terms of possession.”