LIVERPOOL manager, Brendan Rodgers missed attending Sunday’s 3-0 win over Queen’s Park Rangers in London, having been taken ill.
But assistant manager, Colin Pascoe, revealed that Rodgers had picked the team and the preparation for the game had already been done before he cried off sick along with back-up goalkeeper Brad Jones and head of performance Glen Driscoll also sent home with the bug.
Pascoe and coach, Mike Marsh deputised at Loftus Road, although the former also revealed he was ill himself.
Pascoe was not allowed into the changing room in case he infected the team, so Marsh relayed his notes to the players.
Liverpool consigned Harry Redknapp’s QPR to a fifth home defeat of the season as the Merseysiders romped victory, thanks to a Luis Suarez brace and Daniel Agger header inside 27 minutes.
Redknapp admitted his side was “run ragged” but in spite of that and his team’s predicament, he was confident he can turn things around.
“I think we’ll stay up still,” Rangers boss said. “You’ll think we’re mad, but I think we will stay up.
“I only want positive people around me, I said that in the dressing room,” added Redknapp.
According to Liverpool assistant Pascoe, Rodgers phoned him at 8am to say he was unwell.
Pascoe said: “I wasn’t feeling very well myself this morning, but he’s worse than me.
“He was very, very white and he woke up not very well.
“The way the medical team and the doctors tried to isolate the players and the staff, they’ve been fantastic.
“Hopefully they’ll have nipped it in the bud and not too many will be affected by it.
“Brendan picked the team. All the preparation for the game was all done.
“The presentations that we do to the players, that was all set for today’s game. But unfortunately Brendan woke up and wasn’t very well.
“I did the presentations today, but the presentations and everything running up to it was the manager.”
Liverpool will be hoping to have Rodgers back for the visit of Sunderland on January 2, while good news in regards to the injury Jose Enrique picked up in the second half would not go amiss.
“Unfortunately, it looks as if he’s got a little tear in his hamstring,” Pascoe said.
“He was terrific today, absolutely superb, and he’s been a joy to watch in the last few months, so hopefully he’s not out for too long.
“I am not allowed in the changing room so I am not allowed to assess anything.”
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