Taciturn Rodgers sticks to the script

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was in an uncharacteristically abrupt mood ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Arsenal.

The Antrim man, usually so expansive in detailing his thoughts, provided only short responses to questions at his weekly press conference.

His briefing routinely lasts at least 15 minutes but yesterday’s session in the press room at the club’s Melwood training ground took all of four-and-a-half minutes — and that included 11 questions.