Brendan Rodgers has no fear of Chelsea-style ruthlessness at Anfield
• Liverpool is a 'different club' to Chelsea, says Rodgers
• Manager wary of attacking threat posed by Young Boys
by Andy Hunter 6 months ago
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Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool will not continue to follow Chelsea's unstable managerial course under owners who apologised to him for the state of the first-team squad at Anfield. Though the Northern Irishman became Liverpool's fourth manager in two years when he arrived in June, and is the third to work under Fenway Sports Group since they took control in October 2010, he does not fear a repeat of the ruthlessness that cost Roberto Di Matteo his job at Stamford Bridge. That confidence is based on the support of Liverpool's principal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner who, Rodgers revealed, accepted responsibility for the weakness of the squad following the club's calamitous end to the summer transfer window.

The Liverpool manager, who faces Young Boys of Berne in the Europa League on Thursday, admitted Di Matteo's sacking was a "disappointing day" for all managers but denied working in a no-win industry. "That is true at some clubs," he said. "This is a different club."

Rodgers, handed a three-year contract with the option of an extra year by FSG, elaborated: "There comes a point when the reality has to set in. We spoke about it at length before I came into here. Everyone knows that to turn around Liverpool, to get it to where we want to be and where the club deserves to be, there is not going to be a quick fix unless you are going to throw an absolute fortune at it. The owners have been true to their word. They have been remarkable with the support that I have been given, especially early on when we lost some games. I had messages of support, some were apologetic that I had been given the group I have been given. Their support has been unswerving. As a manager that bodes well going forward."

The Liverpool manager met Werner following the 3-0 win over Wigan on Saturday and admits his treatment during a difficult start at Anfield is further cause to believe FSG have a long-term approach. He added: "I really respect that people have been lenient with me because this is a club that demands so much. But I have also been respectful of how realistic people have been."

Liverpool beat the Swiss club 5-3 in the opening game of Group A, but Young Boys have since resurrected their campaign with back-to-back wins over Udinese. Rodgers, who may allow Jon Flanagan and Danny Wilson to go on loan on Thursday, said: "They have got a threat and can score goals. They commit a lot of players forward and if you look at the way they play there are sometimes six players in the box. It leaves them a wee bit open going the other way."

Liverpool probable 4-2-3-1 Reina; Wisdom, Coates, Carragher, Downing; Henderson, Sahin; Cole, Suso, Assaidi; Shelvey.Young Boys probable 4-1-4-1 Wolfli; Sutter, Nef, Veskovac, Lecjaks; Zverotic; Zarate, Schneuwly, Farnerud, Nuzzolo; Bobadilla.

Referee A Yefet Israel

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