Rodgers: No Clarke advantage
Brendan Rodgers believes Steve Clarke will prove a success as West Brom manager – but doesn't feel his time at Anfield will give the Baggies an advantage when they play host to Liverpool this weekend.
Clarke took over at the Hawthorns this summer after spending a season and a half as the Reds' assistant manager.
The Scot was also joined at West Brom by our former first-team coach Kevin Keen, but Rodgers doesn't feel the duo's knowledge of the Liverpool squad will give them the upper hand come kick-off on Saturday.
He explained to Liverpoolfc.com: "I don't believe it will. I think it's a different team. Obviously it's mostly the same players, but the identity of the team will be different. How I work is totally different as well - I'm a different tactician.
"When you get to work with players, you tend to get to know certain little bits of things that normally you wouldn't, but this is a different way of playing and working - and hopefully Saturday will prove that."
Rodgers and Clarke are likely to engage in a warm embrace on the touchline before their two sides lock horns.
The pair struck up a friendship during their time at Chelsea together - and the Reds boss feels his pal will succeed in his first managerial role at the Hawthorns.
Rodgers said: "I think he'll do very well. He's a good man, Steve, and he deserves his opportunity to be a manager.
"He's been a loyal No.2 for a number of years to a variety of managers but I know from having spoken to him over the last few years, he was very keen to be a No.1.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to be given your first job in the Premier League. There's no doubt he'll do a very good job. He's a good guy and deserves the chance."
During his time as an assistant manager, Clarke received plenty of plaudits for his work with his team's defensive set-ups.
So what is Rodgers expecting from the Baggies this Saturday?
"I think like a lot of teams, they'll be hard to beat," he said. "We'll see over the course of time what Steve's philosophy will be as a manager. You only get to really see that in someone when they're the No.1.
"When you're the No.2, you do your work and your coaching, but it will always be led by the manager."