Sunday, 22 September 2013

Kolo Toure says Liverpool must react to defeat against Southampton at Man United in League Cup

Kolo Toure says Liverpool must react to defeat against Southampton at Man United in League Cup

Kolo Toure wants a reaction from Liverpool at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Photo: PA
iverpool defender Kolo Toure insists they will learn from their mistakes after defeat against Southampton and produce a reaction against arch-rivals Manchester United.
Dejan Lovren's 54th-minute header was enough to inflict the Reds' first league defeat in 13 league matches.
It was perhaps coincidence the Saints were the last team to do so, back in March, but their win at Anfield contributed to Liverpool losing top spot in the league to Chelsea.
The performance from Brendan Rodgers' side may have been the poorest one yet this season but Toure knows there is no time to dwell on the result with a Capital One Cup tie at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
"It was a tough game. We didn't start well and we couldn't pass the ball and make the ball quick and we conceded a goal on a set-piece," he said.
"It is a setback but the season is long. You are going to have ups and downs, wins, losses and draws. The most important thing is how you react.
"We will learn from the mistakes we did and focus on the next game.
"That is important for us and we need to realise that.
"The game against United comes at the right time because after a setback like that the one thing you want to do is come back and win."
Liverpool lacked the creativity of Philippe Coutinho, out until the end of October after shoulder surgery, and injuries in defence saw Rodgers field four centre-halves across his backline with little success.
A wonderful save from goalkeeper Artur Boruc kept out a Steven Gerrard free-kick and he also denied Victor Moses after he cut in from the left.
Liverpool should also have had a penalty when Daniel Sturridge was tripped by Lovren but aside from that they created little else.
They were once again indebted to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for keeping the goals down, with one triple save from Luke Shaw, the rebound from his own team-mate Mamadou Sakho and follow-up from Steven Davis particularly impressive.
Southampton's England striker Rickie Lambert had a quiet day by his standards but with Lovren's goal from the excellent Adam Lallana's corner and an off-day for the Reds his services were not required.
Rodgers urged his players to put the result behind them and concentrate on a huge game against United, whom they beat in the league at Anfield earlier this month.
"It hurts because we haven't tasted defeat for such a long time but I'm still very optimistic about the season," said the Reds boss.
"Defeat is hard to swallow but optimism is very much intact and we hope to have a very good season.
"Initially we have to accept we are not happy and look forward to Wednesday night."
Saints captain Lallana thinks the victory can have a significant positive impact on their campaign if they can build on the result.
"If we are winning at places like Anfield we want to be competing with the best and we proved we can but we will take it a game at a time," he said.
"It gives us massive confidence. We beat them at home last season and that gave us confidence but coming to Anfield is a different kettle of fish."
Manager Maurice Pochettini believes the club is moving in a new direction which should bring greater success.
"The chairman (Nicola Cortese) has been developing that winning mentality for the last four years so it is just not me," he said.
"We fully believe in how we want to play and victories like this one reinforces that belief even more.
"What we have to do is learn from these type of games, learn from the experience
"We have to believe we can do this in very tough stadiums in the rest of the country.
"We have to keep on developing that winning mentality and that comes from the manager.
"But we have to think about the Capital One Cup game on Tuesday (against Bristol City) and the league game (against Crystal Palace) on Saturday.

"It (victory) won't be worth anything if we get ahead of ourselves."

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