Brendan: No old pals' act
Brendan Rodgers insists he'll be harbouring no feelings of sentiment come kick off when he takes Liverpool to his former club Swansea City on Sunday afternoon – and claimed his team are primed to record victory in South Wales.
The manager will return to the Liberty Stadium for the first time since taking over at the Anfield helm in June following two hugely successful years with the Swans.
While Rodgers acknowledges he's looking forward to going back to his former home, he's adamant the only thing that will make it a satisfying afternoon will be three points for the Reds.
He told his pre-match press conference: "It's certainly a fixture I was looking forward to. It's a beautiful part of the world, a brilliant club and I had two memorable years there. It was a wonderful experience and I have great memories from there, both professionally and personally.
"I'm really looking forward to going back and seeing many friends there, but ultimately looking to get the result. That's what we'll be there for."
He added: "The Liberty Stadium is a difficult place to go, but we're going into it with a real strong mindset. We feel we're getting that momentum together and we're looking to continue with our run.
"We had a terrific result in our last league outing. We go into the game with big confidence. We know it will be difficult but we'll be looking to get a result."
Under Rodgers, Swansea gained promotion to the Barclays Premier League and then retained their top-flight status last season.
The Northern Irishman admits he was in no hurry to leave his post with the Swans - but the lure of Liverpool Football Club was simply too great to turn away.
"It was a fantastic period there and we created history," he said. "In our first season together, the players, supporters and city really came together. We got promoted against all odds and in the Premier League it was deemed there would be a greater chance of seeing Elvis Presley than Swansea surviving.
"I was in no hurry to leave there, but to come to a club of this status...there are very, very few times in your lifetime you'll get asked to come to a club like Liverpool Football Club - and when that comes, you've got to take that opportunity. I'm ever so glad I did."
Rodgers isn't the only Swansea old boy within the Liverpool ranks.
As well as a number of members of the Melwood backroom team - including assistant manager Colin Pascoe - midfielder Joe Allen also pitched up at Anfield from the Liberty Stadium in the summer.
Rodgers expects the Wales international to receive a warm welcome from the fans of his former club.
"I think Joe will get a fantastic reception," he said. "He was a wonderful young servant to the club there and was very happy there. But the opportunity to come to a club like Liverpool doesn't happen too many times in your career.
"He took that opportunity to come and [work with] a manager who knows his game inside out.
"As an old manager, you never know - but whatever reception I get, I'll always be eternally grateful for the people of South Wales and Swansea City. It was a wonderful club with real honest people who were passionate about the football club. The fit was perfect.
"The concentration for me is purely on the game regardless of the reception I get, but it won't change my thinking on the club or the people."
Liverpool head into the game on a seven-match unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League and currently sit 11th in the table.
Rodgers is predicting better things from his men in the second half of term.
He said: "It's where we finish at the end of the season that will be the most important thing. It's about continuing our improvement.
"I've said before - and I'll repeat it again - we'll get even stronger in the second half of the season because we'll get better in our ways of working and get a better understanding what we're trying to achieve in terms of the team.
"Where we're at in May will define how good a season we've had."
Meanwhile, journalists quizzed Rodgers on his latest plans for the January transfer market.
The manager replied: "We've got a number of targets that we'll look at and see what evolves. We'll see if we can get one or two things done like everyone else, but there won't be wholesale changes. We'll see if we can improve the group in some of the areas we need to."
Elsewhere, Rodgers was asked for his opinion on the latest managerial changes in the Barclays Premier League, with former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez taking over from Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea and Mark Hughes parting company with Queens Park Rangers.
"For every former manager of this football club, you have to respect the great work that's gone on," he said.
"During his six years here, Rafa Benitez made a big impact. Now having left the club and gone to Chelsea - a club I know well - he'll look to do the best he can. Like every manager, we wish them all the best in their work.
"Likewise with Mark Hughes. It will be disappointing for him as he was there less than a year. It was a real challenging time when he went in, but he kept the club up in that first year. This year, he'll feel the season will have got better and better and he needed that little bit more time - but unfortunately he hasn't got it."
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