Some more positive news: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/lucas-shelvey-and-reina-latest Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Lucas Leiva is to take a step closer to a first-team comeback by returning to training at Melwood today â while Pepe Reina and Jonjo Shelvey will both be fit for Saturday's visit of Wigan Athletic. The Brazil midfielder has been sidelined with a thigh problem since August 26, but is now just a 'couple of weeks' away from returning to action, according to the boss. Rodgers told journalists at Melwood: "We're in a good moment. Some of the players that have been out are starting to return back to training. "Lucas Leiva will come back into training, which is great news. He has worked tirelessly in his rehabilitation, so he comes back out onto the field in a good moment. "He won't be ready to play for the weekend, but certainly over the next couple of weeks he'll be very close." On Shelvey and Reina, Rodgers added: "Jonjo will be back into training today, so he'll be fine [for the weekend]. "Pepe has been back in training. He was very close to last weekend [at Chelsea]. "He made a great commitment to show he's fighting for his place here in the group. He was called into the Spanish squad, but stayed here to ensure he was fit and strong - and he's been training all week. "He'll be available for the weekend." A hamstring problem has meant Reina has not figured for Liverpool since October 7, with Brad Jones deputising for the injured custodian. Rodgers admits he'll have something of a selection dilemma to make due to Jones' impressive form. The boss said: "Brad has done terrific. I've said before, and I'll repeat again, Pepe Reina is our No.1 goalkeeper. "He's been an outstanding goalkeeper for this football club. I know from speaking to him that he's committed and very determined to continue at a very high level for the next nine-10 years. "He's been a model professional since I came in here, and I talk regularly with him to try and improve his game and help him get back to the level he wants to get to. "It's good to have two good goalkeepers. Brad has stepped in and has been excellent. Now I have a choice to make for the weekend."
Just read this myself... I find the comments around the keepers a bit strange. He says he has a choice to make but also that he maintains that Pepe is the 'number one' (ironically, he isn't, Jones wears number one), surely this is contradictory? If Pepe is the 'number one' and is fit/available, then he doesn't have a choice to make, Reina plays! If he has a choice to make, then Pepe isn't the clubs guaranteed 'number one'! Great news about Lucas. We desperately need him back but nor do we want to rush him
Good news on Lucas. As for Reina he is by far the better all round keeper but Jones has played well while he was out. The choice for me would be Reina I think Rodgers comments are quite clever as he will play Reina but that "choice" comment will sit in Pepe's brain and make him think that unless he plays well he could be dropped.
It gives Reina the boost knowing that he's first choice but also plants that little seed that Rodgers may have thought bout it.
I'd have contemplated leaving Pepe on the bench for a game or two, would have put a bigger seed in his head. However, with Pepe having to witness how Jones has performed over the last few weeks should be a seed on its own
I don;t think Pepe is the kind of character that will fight for the place, especially against Brad Jones. He's been the number 1 keeper for us for a long time so the whole 'fight for your place' is now probably alien to him. Reina knows he's a top goalkeeper and he's not getting younger and the chance of success in the next few years with LFC is looking unlikely. He knows he will have suitors and I get the impression that if BR doesn't stick in straight in the team, then he'll assess his options in January.
If he really thinks like that then we are better off without him! No one is bigger than the club and he is just another player. As I said, having to watch Jones do well for the last few weeks may well be the kick up the backside he needed anyway
I think Pepe will benefit from the ego caress rather than being punished. Goalkeeping is so much about confidence, as you've seen with Brad improving due to a good run. So I think it would be harmful to Pepe to make him sit on the bench for a couple of matches. I think Rodgers will have a good idea about Pepe's emotional state, and will know how best to proceed.
how much would you bet on rodgers playing reina then? would you put your house on it? anyway for the record spanish players want only two clubs, barca or real.. anything else is just money to them. they all want real unless they are from a specific area. torres for example would jump at real or barca if they really came in but they didn't and he jumped for chav bench wamring and substitute medals, funny how now he's the line leader they've become dependant on the three second line men to score the goals and now that sides have figured a plan to combat that out chelsea are no longer top of the table eh? 20-30 goals per season for torres looks a long way off.
I am just speculating of course and I have no idea what Pepe's emotional state is like, other than that he is a big character around LFC and is the joker. He's been the number 1 for a long time so none of us know exactly how he will react. Hopefully it's positive and we can see him improve. To be fair, in his last couple of games, I noticed a definite improvement with his shot stopping. And credit to Brad Jones - after his terrible Blackburn performance, I was fearing the worst. But since then, he has looked composed and reliable. I don't recall seeing him a mistake with his hands i.e. shot stopping, catching, dealing with crosses. I actually feel a little confident with him being a back up.
