Soccer

Praise for Victor Moses laced with Brendan Rodgers warning

Liverpool advance after 2-0 win at Bournemouth

Victor Moses scores Liverpool’s first goal against as he scores the opening goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Bournemouth. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Victor Moses scores Liverpool’s first goal against as he scores the opening goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Bournemouth. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Jacob Steinberg
Mon Jan 27 2014 - 01:00

While Victor Moses is too young to be drinking in the last chance saloon quite yet, the next few months are likely to have a significant impact on his career.

If Moses manages a consistent run of form between now and the end of the season, he may be given the chance to keep supping the high life at Liverpool. But if he continues flattering to deceive, he may have to settle for a pint and a packet of crisps down the local. Closing time is approaching and it remains to be seen where he will end up.

The 23-year-old winger has struggled to settle since joining Liverpool on a season-long loan from Chelsea and he has not started a league game since the 3-1 defeat at Hull City on December 1st. An apparently shrewd signing by Brendan Rodgers, Moses’ form has tailed off so drastically that his days at Anfield looked numbered at the start of January after he was substituted at half-time in the 2-0 win over Oldham Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup.

Yet Rodgers believes in a player whose potential at Wigan Athletic persuaded Chelsea to buy him two summers ago and his faith was rewarded by Moses' improved performance in Liverpool's awkward 2-0 victory at Bournemouth in the fourth round. This has to be the start.

Nothing but the best
The top clubs settle for nothing but the best every week and Rodgers' praise for Moses was laced with a warning about the consequences of failing to knuckle down.

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“For Victor it is very simple,” the Liverpool manager said. “He wants to remain in a position that he will remain at a big club, whether it is Chelsea or Liverpool. There is no bigger motivation than that. In order to do that he needs to be performing day in day out in training.”

Moses’s goal in the 26th minute came at an important time for Liverpool, alleviating concerns about the way they were being outplayed by Eddie Howe’s vibrant Bournemouth. Set up by Luis Suarez, Moses cut inside from the left and drilled a low shot past Lee Camp. Daniel Sturridge later killed off the Championship side.

Perhaps Moses is at the right club because Liverpool are maturing collectively. Last season they were knocked out in the fourth round by Oldham and they had to be resilient to withstand a first-half barrage from Bournemouth.
Guardian Service