Brendan Rodgers has saluted the efforts of Notts County
after Liverpool needed extra-time to see off the League One side in the Capital
One Cup.
The Reds appeared to be cruising at the break through
goals from Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge, but a second-half comeback from
the visitors took the game to extra-time where Sturridge and Jordan Henderson
spared Rodgers' blushes to seal a 4-2 win.
Liverpool have now enjoyed victory in their opening three
games of the season, but Rodgers was quick to praise his side's lower-league
opponents after a remarkable game.
"It was a real interesting game because we were so
in control in the first half and at the beginning of the second half," he
told Sky Sports.
"I think I can only give plaudits to two groups
really. One is my players because with ten men and being pegged back to two
each, to show that character and commitment and fight to want to get through,
it's a big credit to them.
"I think you have to give a big credit to Notts
County because at 2-0 down here at Anfield, we're in good form at the minute.
It was a great fightback for them and that will bode well for their season
because they showed great character and quality.
"We've seen it in football before - 2-0 is always a
dangerous scoreline no matter who you're against. We're obviously disappointed
with the goals we conceded and our management of the game, but across the
board, we're glad to get through."
Liverpool lost Aly Cissokho, Joe Allen and Kolo Toure to
injury during the game, something which Rodgers bemoaned as he prepares for the
visit of Manchester United.
"I don't think it's overly good to be honest,"
he admitted.
"Young Cissokho was devastated. He shouldn't be too
long, he's just got a nick on his ankle, but obviously it was early on in the
game and he'd actually made a good run that created the space for the goal so
he was distraught to come off in his first start here.
"Joe Allen may well be a hamstring so we'll have a
look at that and obviously Kolo Toure, we'll need to assess it but his groin
has opened up a wee bit.
"We'll know more in the morning but as I said, it
wasn't a good night injury-wise."
The game saw Sturridge continue his rich vein of
goalscoring form and Rodgers hailed the impact the striker is currently having
on his team.
"The idea was to give Dan a game tonight because
he's nowhere near to full fitness yet so we're trying to get him game time and
minutes under his belt as well as his training," he said.
"He's a great finisher, he's one of the top strikers
in the Barclays Premier League and I think we'll see that over the course of
the season.
"He got his finish tonight and I think Jordan
Henderson got a terrific goal as well in that period so we actually managed the
game well with 10 players. The most important thing was to get through. We
didn't expect it to be like that but we got through so we're in the hat."
Rodgers was also asked about any potential movement in
the transfer market and he says that he is still on the hunt for further
additions.
"We're certainly looking at ins, we're hoping to get
a few players in and that will continue right until the end of the
window," said Rodgers.
"There's no amount of players wanted, we're just
looking to get quality players in and if we can do that, we'll be happy."
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