Liverpool Rest Big Names in Europe as Rodgers Prioritises Premier League Success

Liverpool will be without some of their biggest names when they play Hearts on Thursday night in a Europa League qualifying match.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard will not make the trip to Scotland, while the likes of Luis Suarez, Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel will all remain on Merseyside to prepare for the massive weekend fixture against Premier League champions Manchester City.

Liverpool would have to win some 19 games in they were to lift the Europa League trophy and assistant manager Colin Pascoe believes that there will be plenty of squad rotation.

"That's the way you've got to look at it," Pascoe told the Liverpool website. "With the squad and the players we have got here it's fantastic so you have to rotate the players because you play on a Saturday, then a Thursday and a Sunday, so it's an opportunity for all the players to perform.

"One minute you are in the Europa League and the next we will be playing Manchester City, then it's the second leg against Hearts followed by Arsenal, so there are fantastic games and teams who you want to play against. These are games we can't wait for."

With the players that are being rested it seems Rodgers is placing a stronger emphasis on the league form as it is vital that the club improve on their eighth placed finish last season.

However, that does not mean that Liverpool are not taking the game against Hearts seriously as they look to qualify for European competition.

"It's very important. Every game you put a shirt on for Liverpool FC is very important. There will be a full house up in Scotland and all of the boys are looking forward to it," added Roscoe.

With home games against City, Arsenal and Manchester United, plus a tricky away trip to Sunderland, Rodgers will be hoping there are no more injuries in the coming days.

Joe Cole and Jose Enrique are currently sidelined, while Daniel Agger will miss the next game through suspension, so Liverpool will certainly not want to lose any more players ahead of playing Manchester City