Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers dismisses Jose Enrique criticism

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits he is unconcerned by public criticism from defender Jose Enrique over his lack of opportunities at Anfield. The 29-year-old has not played for the Reds since January and claims to have been "alienated" by Rodgers, along with Italian strikers Fabio Borini and Mario Balotelli.

Enrique wants to stay and fight for his place in his final year of his contract on Merseyside but the Spain international expects to be sold during the remaining two weeks of the summer transfer window. Joe Gomez started the opening day win at Stoke City at left-back ahead of Alberto Moreno, while Jon Flanagan is close to returning, leaving Enrique way down the pecking order.

Rodgers has already admitted that having completed his additions during the summer a string of players currently out of favour could be offloaded. Enrique, Balotelli and Borini were all omitted from the whole of Liverpool's pre-season schedule in Asia, Australia and Finland, and their futures appear bleak.

Asked about the criticism from Enrique, Rodgers – speaking ahead of the Premier League visit of newly promoted AFC Bournemouth – responded, according to the Liverpool Echo: "It's not something that I'm overly concerned on. Any manager will tell you, if a player's playing, he'll be super happy – if they're not, they won't be.

"What never changes for me is I always offer every player the respect whether they're playing in the team or not playing. And I'll always do what is best for the team, always treat the individual with the respect, so they understand the situation where they're at."

The Liverpool boss added: "But it's then their choice. If the manager and the club give a player a situation, then if they really want to play, between them and their agent I'm sure they'll find a solution to do that. If they don't then at least they know where they stand. The environment we've created here is to get the maximum out of the players that are going to work for us. So the comments whether they were said or not said, it's irrelevant to me."