Return of top players heightens difficulty of trip to Anfield
Graeme Macpherson
Football Writer

BRENDAN RODGERS' decision last week to leave several of his key players behind when Liverpool travelled north to take on Hearts in the first leg of their Europa League tie seemed to rub some people up the wrong way.
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Hearts get their first taste of Anfield last night with a training session ahead of tonight's Europa League tie. Picture: SNS
Hearts get their first taste of Anfield last night with a training session ahead of tonight's Europa League tie. Picture: SNS

Presumably the sort of people who used to pen weekly missives to Points of View and have their local councillors on speed-dial.

The view among the irate was that the new Liverpool manager "wasn't taking the competition seriously" and was effectively denigrating Hearts, and the rest of Scottish football by association, by leaving the likes of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez at home to rest up at the start of a long season.

Rodgers seemed genuinely taken aback yesterday when it was put to him that his squad selection had perhaps put a few noses out of joint. There had been no intention on his part, he quickly clarified, to either run down the competition or to show disrespect to Hearts with his actions. After all, hadn't he still put out a team full of international players who, admittedly after a struggle, were still able to register a precious away victory?

Still, those who like to see the best players selected for every minute of every match may get their wish this evening, with Rodgers revealing that he would put out a team along more familiar lines for the second leg.

"Some of those players [omitted last week] will come back in for this game," he said. "I don't know what was said or written last week about respecting the competition but I will always respect every game we are in. Any squad I take I believe can win a game and that was the case last week. I used the opportunity to [rest] one or two players, some of those who have played long summers and will play a lot of games this season. But I still had seven full internationals in the team."

Like last week, Liverpool's next match after Hearts is a difficult one in the Barclays Premier League – Arsenal are at Anfield on Sunday – but with no travelling to factor in this time Rodgers feels he can pick a stronger side. "I think it's easier when you have two home games. We had the travel and recovery process last week and everything, but now it's easier to go Thursday, then Sunday, with a reasonably strong side. So [this evening] we'll be strong and looking to win the game, to keep the momentum going."

Rodgers revealed he had been impressed with the Hearts players and their supporters in the first leg but acknowledged his team were overwhelming favourites to go on and reach the group stage. "I thought Hearts did very well at Tynecastle, along with the crowd, who really gave the team energy and carried the players in some ways," he added. "They've got some good players, the young boy [David] Templeton in behind was a threat. He has good qualities. I thought [Callum] Paterson on the side did well, and [Ryan] McGowan got forward well. So it's a game we're not taking lightly."

Rodgers is not the only known admirer of Templeton. Rangers are thought to be weighing up an offer for the Hearts winger and his list of suitors may grow if he performs well at Anfield. "If we get young players coming through and they do well then in the current climate Hearts will have to sell," admitted John McGlynn, the Hearts manager. "It might crop up and we have to accept that and deal with it."

Rodgers was equally vague about what might happen at his club in the last few days of the transfer window – a time when almost everyone associated with football takes temporary leave of their senses – but there was a hint that fringe players like Charlie Adam might be better moving elsewhere if they want to play regular football. "Over the next few days one or two of them may have decisions to make, whether they want to be a squad player or play regularly somewhere else," the Liverpool manager added. "Charlie's a very good player and will be a pivotal part of the Scottish national team going forward. He's a terrific player, with a great left foot and will score goals. I'm sure he will do very well for Scotland."

Of Danny Wilson, the other Scot at Anfield, Rodgers was more clear-cut. "Danny's a young player who has to play. I spoke to him very early on when I came in here. There's no point him sitting about and not getting games. He went out to Blackpool [last season] but didn't play so much. The aim will be for Danny to go and get some games, so we'll see what happens in the next few days."

McGlynn, who has doubts over Marius Zaliukas and Peter Enckelman, seemed at ease with the challenge ahead of him. There will be precious few expecting him to emerge as the victorious manager come full-time tonight, but he is not entirely without hope. "We realise it is a difficult task, being a goal behind from the first leg, but if we can get the first goal, it is game on. We caused them a few problems last week and we are hoping to cause them one or two problems again. If we can do that, then you never know."

Hearts' strong performance in the first leg – despite the result – has also imbued the players with an extra degree of confidence. "I think with Liverpool, the standard of player they have got and financially everything that goes with it, they are always going to be huge favourites," said defender Andy Webster. "But from our point of view, last Thursday showed we are capable of competing against them."

Taken from the Scotsman