'Bale absence won’t help Liverpool’, Rodgers warns ahead of Real Madrid clash

Posted Wednesday, October 22, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted news of Gareth Bale’s injury has brought little comfort to him ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

The Reds received a boost with the confirmation that the Welsh star will take no part in the mouthwatering tie at Anfield, having been ruled out with a muscle problem.

But Rodgers said the phenomenal form of Cristiano Ronaldo, plus the threat of Bale's likely replacement Isco, means the Reds will have to be at the top of their game to have any chance of claiming a result against the reigning European champions

Ronaldo never scored at Anfield during his time at Manchester United, but the Portuguese international has scored 15 times in his last seven La Liga outings, breaking a 71-year-old record, and has scored in five of his six appearances against Premier League teams in Europe.

"Gareth Bale is a world-class player with fantastic speed and fantastic talent, but with the squad Real Madrid have they can bring in players like Isco so I don't think really it's an advantage if he doesn't play,” Rodgers told a press conference.

"And of course there is a special talent in Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best player in the world at the moment, and his evolution from being a soloist who scores goals to a goalscorer is there to see and his record is incredible.

"It's still going to be a very difficult game for us, they have a squad full of top-class players.

"But we have to make a plan for our team first to ensure we cause Real Madrid problems and then prepare yourself for the quality players they have, but that will be as a team."

Liverpool have potential problems up front, with Mario Balotelli – who appeared dejected after failing to score against QPR at the weekend – yet to get off the mark in the Premier League and Daniel Sturridge out injured.

Rodgers has tried to boost Balotelli's confidence, telling talkSPORT in an exclusive interview that the striker will come good at the club, but there are suggestions he may leave the 24-year-old on the bench.

"He's been fine, of course he was disappointed after the weekend - he's a goalscorer so he wants to score goals," added the manager.

"But I highlighted to him he was in the positions to miss, he was arriving in the areas, so I think it's only a matter of time before he gets his goals.

"He's a good kid, he's working hard and he has scored goals in big games and I'm sure he will go into the game tomorrow night - if selected - focused on getting off the mark again, and as long as he is in there getting into the positions I'm sure he can score."

Raheem Sterling may hold the key to Liverpool's chances up front after he excelled against QPR, and Rodgers brushed off questions about the player having told England manager Roy Hodgson he was tired.

Rodgers said there was no issue with Sterling being able to produce the goods again three days after his last match.

"I think he's shown over the last couple of years he has that quality and ability to do that," said the Liverpool boss. "Probably a lot more was made about what happened when he was away with England.

"It was no surprise to me [against QPR], he was a real catalyst for us - wonderful speed, technique and hard work so I've no doubt he can arrive into the game and produce the same quality."