Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has explained his reasons as to why he has selected a youthful looking squad to take to Russia for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Anzhi.
The Reds squad sees players such as Dani Pacheco, Stephen Sama, Adam Morgan and Jon Flanagan included, whilst more senior players Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Nuri Sahin and Raheem Sterling have stayed at home, amongst others.
With a big Premier League game away at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon ahead, Rodgers sees tomorrow’s Anzhi game as a way to rotate his squad and save the legs of his first team.
He told the club’s official web site, “I have the utmost respect for Anzhi, but because our squad is very thin in numbers and we have a lot of games and young players, I’ve had to look at the games and which I can change the squad around.
“But if you look at the games in this competition, we’ve played three and won two games and have changed the squad around.
“In the first half against Udinese – the game we lost – we played very well.
“There is certainly no lack of respect. We have a good squad here that we feel can get a result and then we can prepare them for this weekend’s massive league game – but our focus is on tomorrow night.”
Anzhi vs Liverpool gets underway at 5pm on Thursday, 8th November 2012.
Fan Comments