Daniel Agger: Differences With Brendan Rodgers Made Me Leave Liverpool

Former Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has revealed that differences with Brendan Rodgers forced him to leave Anfield.

The Danish international saw his first team appearances being limited last season and was constantly linked with a move away from the Merseyside club. The 29-year-old rejoined his former club Brondby in August for a reported fee of £3m, despite having offers from top European clubs.

The former Swansea boss named Agger as Liverpool's vice-captain in August 2013. The centre-back believes Rodgers did not appreciate his capabilities and his relationship broke down with the Northern Irishman in his final season at Anfield.

"Let me put it this way, me and the manager were perhaps not on the same page last season. For most of the season at least," Agger told Danish sports channel TV3 SPORT.

"He and I maybe went wrong with each other because I am very direct. I say things as they are, so I expect people will be the same to me. Maybe it's wrong to expect this sometimes."

"There was much (distance) between us, and for me it was just enough. I felt he didn't appreciate the things I could do and contributed. When I feel that, then it's time to move on."

"When you are a part of the starting 11 for several games in a row and the team have performed well, and you feel that you have played well, then you are left out of the team and don't feel appreciated, it starts to prey on your mind and you wonder," he said.

"Then at the same time you see the statistics from your game - which are so important all around the world of football - and you don't understand why you weren't used more often," he added.

Meanwhile, Agger has also praised Rodgers for his coaching methods and has labelled the Liverpool boss as a "talented manager."

"I think he is an incredibly talented manager. You can't take that away from him. He's good in the way he trains and he is clever in the way he sets the team up. He's an extremely, extremely competent coach," the former Liverpool star added.

"The things that went wrong between us is that I say things the way they are and I expect others to treat me the same way. Maybe it is wrong to always expect this."