Liverpool boss Rodgers vows he won't repeat last season's Cup tie mistakes
After weakened teams went out of both competitions, opening
League Cup foes Notts County will get "the same respect as Man United"
Alex Livesey
Brendan Rodgers claims he learnt the painful lessons from Liverpool’s cup disappointments last season.
Knockout defeats to Swansea in the Capital One Cup and League One's Oldham in the FA Cup were two lows of Rodgers’ first year in charge - and the Reds' manager says those losses taught him not to play weakened sides in the cups.
To that end, Rodgers has promised to field a strong team on Tuesday when Liverpool begin their quest to lift the League Cup for a ninth time with a home tie against League One side Notts County.
"I made some mistakes last season, in terms of changing the team," admitted Rodgers.
"When we played Swansea, they had a full-strength side out and we didn’t. They went on and won it and we were knocked out.
"It was difficult for us at that moment, with the league and European games. I always try and make the league our objective, but there are lessons learned from that.
"Hopefully, we will be much better this time and I think the group is more prepared, in every way, than we were last year.
"Cup competitions are important for us, as well as the league, and we will give it absolutely everything to get as far as we can in this competition.
"The league is No 1 priority, but this is a club based around cup competitions and trophies, and we feel we are better equipped to handle everything."
Rodgers claims he will not let his players be distracted by Sunday’s huge clash with bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
"Our focus is on the next game, and that is Notts County," said the Northern Irishman.
County have just one point from their first four league games this season, but Rodgers vowed: "We will treat them with the same respect as Manchester United.
"This will be an opportunity for some players to get a game, who maybe haven’t featured, but the core of our team will be there."
Liverpool (probable) Jones; Kelly, Agger, Wisdom, Cissokho; Alberto, Allen, Henderson, Ibe; Sterling, Aspas.
Knockout defeats to Swansea in the Capital One Cup and League One's Oldham in the FA Cup were two lows of Rodgers’ first year in charge - and the Reds' manager says those losses taught him not to play weakened sides in the cups.
To that end, Rodgers has promised to field a strong team on Tuesday when Liverpool begin their quest to lift the League Cup for a ninth time with a home tie against League One side Notts County.
"I made some mistakes last season, in terms of changing the team," admitted Rodgers.
"When we played Swansea, they had a full-strength side out and we didn’t. They went on and won it and we were knocked out.
"It was difficult for us at that moment, with the league and European games. I always try and make the league our objective, but there are lessons learned from that.
"Hopefully, we will be much better this time and I think the group is more prepared, in every way, than we were last year.
"Cup competitions are important for us, as well as the league, and we will give it absolutely everything to get as far as we can in this competition.
"The league is No 1 priority, but this is a club based around cup competitions and trophies, and we feel we are better equipped to handle everything."
Rodgers claims he will not let his players be distracted by Sunday’s huge clash with bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
"Our focus is on the next game, and that is Notts County," said the Northern Irishman.
County have just one point from their first four league games this season, but Rodgers vowed: "We will treat them with the same respect as Manchester United.
"This will be an opportunity for some players to get a game, who maybe haven’t featured, but the core of our team will be there."
Liverpool (probable) Jones; Kelly, Agger, Wisdom, Cissokho; Alberto, Allen, Henderson, Ibe; Sterling, Aspas.
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