Brendan Rodgers has defended his team selection following Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Anzhi Makhachkala.
The Liverpool boss made nine changes from his side that drew 1-1 with Newcastle last weekend, leaving out stars Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez for the Europa League tie. Lacina Traore scored the winning goal for Anzhi putting the Russian side top of the group, one point ahead of Liverpool.
Asked whether bringing Gerrard and the others would have made a difference, Rodgers said: "Not at all. I think that is a little disrespectful to the players who are here. They have been magnificent and I thought they did really well and we just got punished for a mistake," said the Reds boss.
"That led to us losing the game but I don't think it was anything to do with Suarez, Gerrard, Joe Allen, Martin Skrtel or Daniel Agger not being here," added Rodgers. "It was a much-changed team but Coady came in and was outstanding in his first start, playing against top players, and for Flanagan it was his first game in a long time. It was just one of those things. We will take it as a team, we are disappointed but there are so many positives [to take] from the game."
Anzhi manager Guus Hiddink conceded that Liverpool controlled the game but thought if his side had taken their chances they would have won comfortably.
"They had a young side but that does not mean they were not experienced as some of those players play frequently in the Premier League," Hiddink said. "They were good players, skilful players who were tactically good. They tested us but we also have some young players so it's a good result for us. We didn't finish it off in the second half, we had two big opportunities, but it was an interesting game on a very bad pitch. They controlled the game and tested us but that makes me happy with this result.”
Liverpool sit 12th in the Premier League and will look to turn their poor start to their Premier League season around against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
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