Brendan Rodgers warns Daniel Cummings about agents with a different agenda

Q: In terms of the squad for Sunday, is Cameron Carter-Vickers back?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, he’ll be back available and I don’t think we’ll get anyone else really. James is still not back fit yet.”

Q: Kasper Schmeichel missed training?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, he’s a bit old, isn’t he? Got to look after him. Yeah, they just need them a few wee extra days so give them a little cuddle. Yeah, so he’s okay.”

Q: Going back to the Champions League game, two extra games, did that allow you a chance a little bit of flexibility to try different tactics? We were talking to Alistair Johnson earlier about the difference between the Atalanta game and the more aggressive pressing from the Villa game. Was that something you were able to do yourself and feel a bit more liberated to try different styles?

Brendan Rodgers: “I think what you find the different teams and how they play and operate at that level and of course it allows you to look at different ideas. Our idea against Aston Villa was the pace and power that they have in the front line. So you want to be able to press the game and have the moments to impose your press but once that gets beaten then you’re trying to get back in and block up that space. Moments we’ve done that really well, other moments they came through that but that’s the risky take whenever you play that type of game. Like you say, the Atalanta game, a different game. But yeah, I love this nature of it, the different tactical ideas of what you try to bring in and to see if it works against lots of times a superior opponent. What for me is always important for us is to show that ability to compete and be there and I think the Aston Villa game is a great example of that. We played some great football at times, scored two brilliant goals and we were right in the game, the game was right in the balance even though the second half, like I say, we tired a wee bit, we didn’t quite have what we wanted to make the changes in the game. But we were still there right into injury time at 3-2. So yeah, that’s a positive for us and it’s a great foundation this year to allow us to continue to grow and have confidence at the level.”

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