Brendan Rodgers has last laugh as calculated gamble pays off in Edinburgh

by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

THE Scottish capital is packed with comedians at this time of year but Liverpool FC successfully avoided the jokes being at their expense.

With the Edinburgh Festival in full swing, the only stage interesting Brendan Rodgers was at Tynecastle and he watched his much-changed line up safely negotiate a tricky assignment.

The Reds rode their luck and it was a long way from being a stellar performance but this was a night when the result was all that mattered.

Rodgers’ calculated gamble to leave a host of star names back home paid off as Liverpool moved to within sight of the group stage of the Europa League.

Andrew Webster’s late own goal was harsh on Hearts but it has given Rodgers’ men a precious lead to take into next Thursday’s second leg.

They had to dig deep as the Scots threw everything at them. But the Reds produced a show of character and in Raheem Sterling they had the game’s outstanding performer.

The teenager more than repaid the manager’s faith in him after being handed his first start and must have put himself into contention to play some part in Sunday’s home league clash with Manchester City.

For Rodgers, victory and a clean sheet was the perfect response to last weekend’s nightmare opening day defeat at West Brom.

However, the boss will know that for long periods this game merely emphasised the point he made on the eve of the match about the lack of depth in his squad.

The imminent arrival of Nuri Sahin on a season-long loan from Real Madrid will help but Rodgers still needs more reinforcements before the window shuts next week.

To finance that he will need to move some players on but that is easier said that done. It was a sign of his limited options that Stewart Downing came off the bench to play the final half hour at left-back last night.

Rodgers’ concerns earned him no sympathy from Hearts boss John McGlynn. The Edinburgh club have endured years of financial problems during the reign of owner Vladimir Romanov.

They have repeatedly failed to pay players’ wages on time and have been threatened with administration due to unpaid tax bills.

Successive managers have had to deal with hefty budget cuts and their best players being sold to reduce debts.

McGlynn lost no fewer than seven of last season’s squad who lifted the Scottish Cup after coming from Raith Rovers to replace Paulo Sergio.

He has had to plug the gaps with home-grown youngsters but Hearts put their problems behind them to give Liverpool an uncomfortable evening north of the border.

McGlynn has urged Hearts fans to transform Tynecastle into a cauldron of noise and a 16,000 sell-out crowd duly obliged.

A year ago the Jambos were blown away by Spurs at this stage of the competition. The tie was effectively over inside half an hour of the first leg as the visitors raced into a 3-0 lead.

But this time there was no repeat. Energised by the partisan support, Hearts flew at Liverpool from the start and forced them on to the back foot.

The message above the tunnel reads ‘Blood does not show on a maroon jersey’ and the hosts gave everything for the cause.

Reina had to be alert early on to race off his line to deny lone frontman John Sutton, the younger brother of former Blackburn striker Chris.

Hearts continued to press with the Reds keeper unconvincingly keeping out Arvydas Novikovas’ dipping 30 yarder.

There was a real sense of purpose about Hearts as they hassled and harried the visitors into squandering possession.

Sutton fired wide before Agger blocked Darren Barr’s goal-bound strike.

If Rodgers had remained at Swansea this summer he was considering a move for David Templeton and the young Hearts winger showed glimpses why.

After a surging run goalwards he lashed a shot narrowly over the bar.

Charlie Adam, who was mercilessly booed on his return to his homeland, had a 25-yarder pushed away by Jamie MacDonald but the Reds failed to keep the ball long enough to secure any kind of control.

All eyes were on Sterling after he was handed his first start for the club by Rodgers. It was reward for the 17-year-old’s progress in pre-season and he more than justified his selection.

Sterling is raw and still has much to learn. He’s had to deal with a huge amount of hype and expectation on his young shoulders but the signs are that he can handle it.

His slight frame means he’s liable to being bullied by defenders but after a quiet start he burst into life and as the first half progressed he grew in confidence.

His pace repeatedly troubled full-back Ryan McGowan who was relieved to see one timely interception roll just wide of his own net with Jamie MacDonald beaten.

Just before the half hour mark Sterling burst inside and unleashed a blistering strike which the keeper palmed away to safety.

Rodgers’ plans to hand a start to Andy Carroll were dashed after the striker complained of tightness in his hamstring.

That meant a central role for Fabio Borini.

The Italian was largely left to feed off scraps but what he was presented with he squandered.

One swift counter attack resulted in Jordan Henderson delivering an inviting cross from wide on the right flank but Borini scuffed his volley wastefully wide.

Liverpool spurned a golden opportunity to silence the home fans on the stroke of half-time.

Sterling pounced on a defensive mistake and raced goalwards.

With just MacDonald to beat the youngster opted to square it to Borini, who hammered it against the upright.

After the break Callum Paterson blazed wide from a tight angle but Hearts couldn’t replicate the intensity they played with in the opening 45 minutes.

Rodgers brought on Downing for Robinson on the hour and Joe Allen soon followed for the ineffective Jay Spearing.

Sterling continued to shine but chances were a premium with Adam insisting on shooting every time he ventured within 40 yards of goal.

The game appeared to be petering out into a stalemate when the breakthrough arrived 13 minutes from time.

Martin Kelly whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, Borini missed it but Webster bundled the ball into his own net from close range.

Hearts could have equalised late on but Reina was equal to efforts from substitute Andrew Driver and Callum Paterson.

There was a first team debut for Academy graduate Adam Morgan in stoppage time as he replaced Borini.

This was no classic but considering Liverpool’s cast list the reviews shouldn’t be too critical.

HEARTS: MacDonald; McGowan, Zaliukas, Webster, Grainger; Barr (Robinson 87), Taouil; Paterson, Templeton (Driver 77), Novikovas (Carrick 84); Sutton.

Not used: Enckelman, Smith, McGowan, McHattie.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Robinson (Downing 60), Carragher, Agger, Kelly, Henderson, Spearing (Allen 67), Adam, Shelvey, Sterling, Borini (Morgan 90).

Not used: Jones, Coates, Lucas, Flanagan.

REFEREE: Florian Meyer

BOOKINGS: Barr.

ATTENDANCE: 15,965