Downing: We'll be better
Stewart Downing believes Liverpool will turn in an improved performance against FC Gomel in their first home game of 2012-13 on Thursday night after benefiting from another week of training at Melwood.
The winger fired the only goal of last week's hard-fought contest in Belarus to secure a 1-0 first-leg victory for the Reds.
Downing admits it was a tough test for Liverpool at the Central Stadion, and while he admits Gomel are likely to provide another difficult contest, he's confident Brendan Rodgers' side will profit from an extra week's worth of training.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "I think we were all a little bit rusty. It was my first 90 minutes and Johnno (Glen Johnson) came back in after playing all summer.
"And Gomel are five or six weeks, if not longer, into their league season.
"Obviously I can understand fans who want us to be fast out of the blocks but we had only been back 10 days so for me, it was a good result, maybe not the best performance but with a week's training behind us we'll put a better performance in at Anfield tomorrow night."
He added: "I was really pleased with the goal. It was good timing as well because we were under pressure a little bit and it deflated them a little.
"We're happy with where we are at for this stage of pre-season and are looking forward to Thursday."
Downing's goal in Belarus came after the 28-year-old had drifted in from the right wing and drilled home from the edge of the box.
Afterwards, the England man revealed how Rodgers has encouraged him to try his luck more often - and he's keen to take on the manager's advice.
"All managers have their different ways of playing and this manager sees me as playing on the right a little bit more," he said.
"He wants me playing higher up the field and getting in goal scoring positions because maybe I was a little bit deep last season. Hopefully that will happen and I will be in the position to score more goals.
"I did two years there at Aston Villa under Martin O'Neill and Gerard Houllier and enjoyed it. Kyle Walker was behind me and Johnno (Glen Johnson) here is a similar type of player. I got used to it and do enjoy playing there. I got my goal from that position the other night and sometimes defenders don't like wingers coming inside."
Downing added: "Everyone is thinking about the way the new manager plays and if they are going to fit in and get to play.
"But the only thing you can do is train well and prove yourself in games. All you can do is show the manager you deserve to be in the team."
Meanwhile, Downing insists Liverpool will be going all out to win the Europa League this season.
He said: "It's certainly one we want to win.
"Earlier on you don't know where you are going to be playing but the further on you get, when the Champions League teams drop in, then there are some good sides in the competition.
"The manager has stressed from day one that whatever competition we are in, we go to win it. So you can see his mentality, he wants to win every game, he is hungry and his players have got to be the same otherwise you don't get picked."