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Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has outlined just why he believes Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is a better man-manager than Chelsea's Jose Mourinho.
Johnson, who left Stamford Bridge for Portsmouth in summer 2007 - shortly before the end of Mourinho's first reign - before moving on to Anfield two years later, claims he lost faith in the Portuguese after being dropped ahead of a big Champions League game against Barcelona.
"It was difficult for me under Jose at Chelsea because there was a moment when he said I deserved to play on merit," the 29-year-old told the Daily Mail . "He said if I played well in the next game I would play the week after. I got man of the match so he couldn't drop me.
"Then in the next game he said the same thing and I got man of the match again. Then we had another game and after that Barcelona. I remember speaking to my agent and saying, 'He won't play me in this game because if I play well then he has to play me against Barcelona', and I knew that wasn't going to happen.
Liverpool: The latest match picturesShow all 50 1 /50Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Steven Gerrard shepherds Luis Suarez from the field as he cries at the end of the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Martin Skrtel reacts after the 3-3 draw between Liverpool and Crystal Palace
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Luis Suarez adds a third immediately after Sturridge's goal, giving Liverpool a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Daniel Sturridge doubles Liverpool's lead as his deflected effort beat Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Joe Allen heads Liverpool into the lead as he converts a first-half corner
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Willian has the simplest of finishes to make it 2-0 for Chelsea
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Demba Ba celebrates his goal
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Demba Ba scores for Chelsea after Steven Gerrard's slip
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Steven Gerard and Jon Flanagan try to retrieve the ball from Jose Mourinho
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Tomas Kalas, on his Premier League debut, tackles Raheen Sterling
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 New Norwich manager Neil Adams salutes the crowd prior to kick-off
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling fires Liverpool into an early lead at Carrow Road
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling celebrates his opener with manager Brendan Rodgers
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Luis Suarez scores against Norwich in Liverpool's 3-2 win
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez celebrate during Liverpool's game with Norwich
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling is challenged
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Gary Hooper pulls a goal back for Norwich after a mistake by Simon Mignolet
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Joe Allen challenges Robert Snodgrass for the ball
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling's shot deflects off Bradley Johnson and over John Ruddy to put Liverpool 3-1 ahead
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Robert Snodgrass sets up a thrilling finale by heading a second Norwich goal
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Liverpool players rush to celebrate with captain Steven Gerrard at the final whistle
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2 Philippe Coutinho fires in Liverpool's winner
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2 David Silva pulls one back for Manchester City
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2 Martin Skrtel heads in Liverpool's second
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2 Raheem Sterling celebrates his opening goal with Luis Suarez
Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard leads Liverpool's celebration after scoring his second penalty of the afternoon
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Adrian appears to win the ball but brings down Jon Flanagan too and referee Anthony Taylor awards Liverpool their second penalty
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard tries to chase down Mohamed Diame
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Raheem Sterling and Pablo Armero compete for the ball
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Liverpool players protest against Guy Demel's equaliser after Andy Carroll appeared to foul goalkeeper Simon Mignolet
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard celebrates after scoring his penalty
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard makes no mistake from the spot to put Liverpool ahead
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Luis Suarez forces James Tomkins into a hand ball and giving away a penalty
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Luis Suarez's chipped effort hits the bar
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Jordan Henderson clashes with Matthew Taylor
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Luis Suarez hits a free kick over the bar
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Daniel Sturridge congratulates Jordan Henderson after the midfielder's goal
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Philippe Coutinho fires in Liverpool's third
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Brendan Rodgers looks on from the touchline
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Luis Suarez of Liverpool celebrates the second goal against Tottenham
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Younes Kaboul scores an own goal in the second minute
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Steven Gerrard celebrates with Jordan Henderson after opening the scoring
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Luis Suarez goes to ground after a clash with Lee Cattermole
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Ki Sung-Yueng pulled a goal back late on
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Jordan Henderson celebrates with goalscorer Sturridge
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Daniel Sturridge doubled Liverpool's lead via a deflection off Wes Brown
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Vito Mannone gets a hand to Gerrard's strike but is unable to keep it out
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the lead with a free-kick
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Liverpool 6 Luis Suarez celebrates after completing his hat trick
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Liverpool 6 Daniel Sturridge scores Liverpool's fifth of the afternoon
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"He didn't play me in that game and from that moment I just lost it and thought, 'Well, how am I meant to respect you now? It's just finished'."
"Brendan wouldn't do that. He's shown that if you're good enough you're old enough and you'll play in the big games if you deserve to. So, in terms of man-management, Brendan is definitely better."
PA
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