Echo: No apologies from Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers was making no apologies at the Stade de Suisse.

The Liverpool FC boss robustly defended his decision to leave so many star names back home and dismissed accusations of disrespecting the Europa League ahead of tonight's opening Group A game against Young Boys.

With Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United looming large, Rodgers believes he had little choice but to spare Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Martin Kelly, Glen Johnson and Joe Allen this continental trip.

Rodgers insists his squad simply isn't deep enough to ask his first choice line-up to compete on all fronts and throughout this season he will prioritise league results over progress in Europe.

"I would love to be able to enter into every competition with a real conviction that we can go on and win every competition, but the reality is we need to see where we go and I need to manage game by game," he said.

"I felt the Hearts game in the last round had an impact on us on the Sunday against Arsenal and the Premier League is the number one priority. I've made that clear from the off with the position we're in with the squad.

"If I was to lose any of my key players it would make it very difficult for us over the next two or three months. I have to do what's in the best interests of the football club, no matter what the perception is.

"I've brought a squad here with a mixture of experience and talented young players and I'm looking forward to seeing them come together.

"Without disrespecting this tournament, it is a great opportunity to see how good the young players are, how they mix with the more experienced players and see if we do have the depth of young talent to support the squad going forward.

"There is no shying away from it, I'd love to do well in the competition but I need to manage it alongside other priorities."

Teenagers Andre Wisdom, Samed Yesil and Suso are all likely to make their first team debuts tonight. Adam Morgan, Jack Robinson, Raheem Sterling, Conor Coady and Dani Pacheco are also in the squad but Jon Flanagan didn't travel.

Rather than fear the consequences of fielding so many youngsters, Rodgers is relishing the prospect of seeing how they measure up.
"I have what I have and I'm just excited about seeing the young talent and how they react to being given the opportunity," he said.

"By the time we are on the plane after the game I hope there will be one or two real positives. I believe in young players but you never know until you give them a chance.

"People didn't know if Raheem Sterling was going on loan in the summer but he improved as pre-season went on and responded fantastically to being thrown in. Hopefully one or two others will show up well.

"This game allows us to see where the young players are at in their development. Andre Wisdom has been around the team for a few years and Suso has been waiting for the opportunity to play. If you get a chance, then it's up to you with your talent and personality to take it."

Despite so many absentees, Rodgers believes he will be able to strike the right balance between youth and experience. Brad Jones will start in goal with Jamie Carragher, Sebastian Coates and Jose Enrique in front of him.

Further forward Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Nuri Sahin and Oussama Assaidi, who could make his debut, provide options for the manager, who insists places are still up for grabs to face United on Sunday.

"We have a good mixture of players here and we've brought a squad capable of winning the game," he said.

"If people do well in this game there's no question they can be involved on the weekend. Guys like Nuri need games to get up to speed. The Europa League gives them all the chance to play.

"Boys like Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing have been working hard in training. They will get minutes under their belt so if they are required to play then they will be up to game speed."

Young Boys finished third in the Swiss League last season and are fifth after eight games this term - six points adrift of leaders St Gallen.

Boss Martin Rueda will be looking to striker Raul Bobadilla to continue his hot streak having scored six goals in his last eight outings. The Argentinian netted twice in last weekend's emphatic 5-1 triumph away to second tier club Wettswil-Bonstetten in the Swiss Cup.

"They are a decent technical side," added Rodgers. "The Swiss national team always pass the ball well and Young Boys are the same."

Source: Liverpool Echo