Match Preview: West Brom vs Liverpool

New eras begin in earnest at both West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool on Saturday's first day of the new Premier League season.

Both clubs have during the summer undergone changes in management following the respective departures of now-England boss Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish.

There has in fact been a strange managerial symmetry between the two clubs over recent years after Hodgson joined West Brom following his sacking at Anfield while new head coach Steve Clarke previously worked as Dalglish's assistant.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are now under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers having recruited the Northern Irishman from Swansea City as the Merseyside club look to improve on last season's eight-placed finish in the league.

Clarke will likewise be under pressure to make improvements at West Brom but he will have his work cut out to build on the excellent 2011/12 top-half finish which was secured under the lead of Hodgson.

Whatever the future has in store for the Scot in his first job as a manager after years of working as a right-hand man to the likes of Ruud Gullit, Jose Mourinho and Gianfranco Zola, he will be desperate for a good start having been dismissed by Liverpool in the summer.

Clarke, though, could be left counting the cost of the midweek international friendlies which have dealt him a number of injury concerns.

Scotland's James Morrison (ankle) and Sweden defender Jonas Olsson (minor knock) both returned from playing for their countries with problems and are being assessed ahead of the weekend's match.

New signing Markus Rosenberg is unlikely to be fit in time while midfielder Graeme Dorrans remains on leave with his daughter in hospital due to meningitis.

Striker Shane Long is available despite missing the Republic of Ireland's match with Serbia.

New Liverpool signings Fabio Borini and Joe Allen could both be given debuts at The Hawthorns.

Striker Borini is pushing for a start having impressed in pre-season since arriving in July from Roma, although midfielder Allen may have to settle for a place on the bench having only joined from Swansea a week ago.

Midfielder Joe Cole has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the Europa League qualifier against FC Gomel in Belarus.

Rodgers Eyeing Top Four

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants his team to embrace the challenge of breaking back into the top four.

The Reds have not qualified for the UEFA Champions League since 2009 but after several disappointing seasons new boss Rodgers is confident they can make a better attempt at rejoining Europe's elite.

"I've said right from the off I want to make us as competitive as we can possibly be," said the Liverpool boss.

"The challenge at the top of the table is greater than ever. Now there are seven or eight teams involved but the top four is certainly not something we'll shy away from.

"It's where a club of this status wants to be but it's always easier said than done and the reality over the past three seasons or so hasn't been that.

"Our job is to try to push on. There has been a lot of work done over the last few years to try to get the club back into the top echelons of the league so we are hoping to do that."

Rodgers is hopeful that by changing the club's tactical approach and by introducing quality youngsters such as Fabio Borini and Joe Allen he can turn Liverpool's fortunes around.

"There has been a lot of change and a lot of work going on and of course every manager wants patience but the reality of football means that's not the way it works," he added.

"The challenges are great and the pressures at this level are great.

"There is a long way to go for us. We will be better next year than we are this year because there will have been more time to work with the players and they will have adapted more to my methods.

"But all we can do is retain our focus and concentration to improve how we play and, more importantly, to be effective.

"A system or style is not very good if you're not winning games. You have to win matches.

"Your principles are based on the players you have and hopefully over the next number of years we will be able to bring in certain types which allow us to play a certain way.

"Until that moment comes the players are working tirelessly and relentlessly to improve their game and get results and at this early stage it is very promising for them."

Liverpool Can Play Exciting Football Under Rodgers Insists Club Legend

Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan has hailed the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as new boss, insisting that the former Swansea manager can bring exciting football to Anfield this season.

Rodgers was appointed as Kenny Dalglish's replacement at the start of the summer, and has already stamped his authority on the club as he looks to instill a similar system to that which earned him plaudits at the Liberty Stadium last year.

“I think it's a good appointment,” said ESPN analyst Kevin Keegan. “It's a step in a different direction for the club.

“We've seen the football he played at Swansea with players less talented that the one's he has now, and the fans will be thinking if he can play that brand of football with the likes of [Steven] Gerrard and [Luis] Suarez, then it could be very exciting.”

Rodgers has begun that in earnest, recruiting exciting midfield talent Joe Allen from his former club, as well as snapping up a proven goal-scorer in Fabio Borini, and an adept wide-man in Oussama Assaidi. All of his signings this summer point towards a more attacking style, something Keegan suggests Liverpool have been lacking in recent years.

“I think he will be attacking more with the players he has, and that's what Liverpool fans want. For years they have been too defensive at home, playing with one up top. If he's adventurous, they've got the ability to score a lot of goals at home.”

Initial criticisms of Rodgers questioned whether this was too big a job for him at such a relatively early stage of his managerial career, but as Keegan comments, his work at Chelsea alongside Jose Mourinho has given him the necessary experience to survive at a big club.

“He had a good grounding at Chelsea. He's not wet behind the ears in terms of the Premier League. When you're working with the likes of Mourinho at Chelsea, and you're winning things, you're bound to pick up things from that.”

One big question mark remaining though, is that over Andy Carroll's future at Liverpool. Rodgers' omission of the England striker from his squad for the Europa League first leg qualification clash only heightened rumours that the £35 million man may be off before the summer's end, but as Keegan suggests, Carroll may still have a role to play.

“It was looking very bleak last season just up until Christmas, but he then found his Liverpool and Premier League legs,” Keegan said.

“You've got to remember this is a lad with very little experience. I had him at Newcastle and never played him, so we're talking about three or four years ago and he wasn't playing at all.

“But he's a good weapon to have on your bench, and he can certainly play in games where you think playing more direct might suit you.”

Gerrard Not Slowing Down Yet

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is prepared to adapt to fit in with what Brendan Rodgers wants but insists he can still play a dynamic game.

Gerrard is now 32 and has had a number of injuries in his career, leading to suggestions that his future may be more as a deep-lying midfielder.

However, the England international says he still wants to play with the same energetic approach that has always been one of his strengths.

"I think people want me to say I can't play the same way any more, that I have to go deeper to control the game and play a slower game," he said in the Daily Express.

"But believe me, it's not happening. Not yet. I can still play a dynamic, energy-type game. I am prepared to adapt - I'll do whatever the manager wants - but I can still play the same way."

Gerrard has had discussions with new Reds manager Rodgers about what his position might be for the next few years, and he thinks it will only be a gradual change.

"The manager has spoken to me about what role he sees me filling," said Gerrard. "I still think he sees me as an attacking midfielder, but as we work through the ages - maybe 33 or 34 - then maybe I might be dropping a bit deeper. But I don't think anything is going to change this season.

"On the other side of it, I know I'm not going to be bombing forward every few seconds without a care of what's happening behind me. I have to play with my brain and control and pick the right time to go. I do appreciate I'm no spring chicken.

"There are people at the club who collect figures every day in training and measure my heart-rate, the amount of running you do.

"They haven't come to me yet and said, 'Listen, I don't think you can play the way you have been able to play '. They will do that one day, they'll come to me and say, 'You might need to adapt your game'. But it hasn't come to that yet."

Gerrard is enjoying life under Rodgers and insists he has lost none of his enthusiasm for training as he builds towards Saturday's Premier League opener against West Brom.

He explained: "Every day you have got a chance to show the manager that you should be in his starting line-up. Even though I am 32 I still try to impress the manager every day."

Carroll Unfazed By Speculation

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says Andy Carroll has not allowed the summer speculation linking him away from the club to affect him.

England striker Carroll, 23, has struggled to match expectations at Anfield since making a £35m move from Newcastle in January 2011.

He has scored 11 times for the Reds in 56 appearances and his future is unclear following the arrival of close-season appointment Rodgers.

Newly-promoted West Ham were interested in signing Carroll on loan with a view to a permanent deal, but any potential move has been ruled out by Hammers boss Sam Allardyce this week.

Former club Newcastle are also monitoring the situation and it remains to be seen what role the Gateshead-born player will play in Liverpool's opening game of the Premier League season at West Brom on Saturday.

But Rodgers says Carroll is mentally ready to play if called upon, saying: "He's coped with the speculation fine.

"Unfortunately you cannot control what is written and the speculation out there, but he's coped well.

"We've spoke, our communication has been open and he's worked very hard on the training ground since he has been here and since I have been here. I haven't had a problem with him.

"He knows where he stands within the group. We will see how that develops."

Liverpool Target Desperate To Leave Fulham

Clint Dempsey is looking increasingly likely to leave Fulham following the news that Martin Jol has left the American out of his squad for the club’s first game of the season against Norwich Saturday afternoon.

Despite the fact that Liverpool are yet to make an official bid for the player, Dempsey has made his intentions to leave Craven Cottage clear, and has consequently spent much of Fulham’s pre-season training away from the first team. As the player’s future hangs in the balance, manager Jol doesn’t believe Dempsey is in the right frame of mind to take part in the club’s season opener.

"Clint was not involved over the last four weeks so he is not going to be in the squad,” Jol said, The Guardian report.

“He is not committed to the club. He wants to leave. I would like to keep him, but I think it's impossible. It's a sad and an almost embarrassing situation."

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax manager has grown frustrated with Liverpool’s pursuit of Dempsey, who was crowned Fulham’s Player of the Season after scoring 23 goals for the club last campaign. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has previously disclosed the club’s interest in the American’s services, but no bid has been lodged yet.

“Even [Rodgers] told everyone he was interested in Clint Dempsey, but our people never had an offer on the table, so it's almost embarrassing,” Jol added.

“If you have shown interest in a player, especially in England, you have to follow it up with an offer. They didn't."

It has been thought that Liverpool saw Fulham’s valuation of Dempsey as too expensive, given that he has entered the last year of his contract. But the resolute Jol has explicitly warned the Anfield club that the forward will not be available on the cheap.

“At first we didn't want to get rid of him, later on we had to change our position. But our view is that we won't let Clint Dempsey go on the cheap, that's for sure.”

LFC Complete Assaidi Transfer

Liverpool Football Club has completed the signing of Oussama Assaidi from Dutch side SC Heerenveen.

The 24-year-old winger passed a medical at Melwood before signing a long-term deal with the club.

Assaidi, who has represented Morocco 22 times, told Liverpoolfc.com: "I'm very happy to play for this big club. The first time I spoke to the coach I had a good feeling. I had offers from other big clubs but I've been waiting for this moment.

"The coach gave me a good feeling. It will be a dream to play with these big players and I hope training will help me to be a good player here.

"When I watch Liverpool it's always a good atmosphere, the fans are fantastic and I'm happy to be here."

Assaidi scored 20 goals in 68 appearances for Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie.

He becomes Brendan Rodgers' third signing as Reds boss following the arrivals of Fabio Borini and Joe Allen.

Rodgers said: "We're delighted with the signing, he's a young player who has done very well, in particular in the last couple of seasons, in Holland.

"He fits our style perfectly, he's an exciting player who is very good in one versus one situations and I think he's a player that will excite the crowd.

"We're not expecting too much too early, he needs time to adapt but we're delighted he's chosen to come here over a number of other clubs.

"As I said, I'll look forward to helping his development and I hope he'll become a very good part of this club."

Allardyce Gives Up On Carroll

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce appears to have given up the pursuit of signing Andy Carroll after claiming a deal was never agreed with Liverpool for the striker.

The Upton Park club's co-chairman, David Sullivan, had on Wednesday announced England international Carroll had snubbed a move to London.

But ahead of Saturday's Premier League season-opener against Aston Villa, Allardyce insists no £17million fee had ever been agreed with Liverpool.

Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers is thought to be prepared to sell Carroll, who was signed by Kenny Dalglish for £35m in January 2011, but the club wants as much money as possible.

And Allardyce seems to think West Ham's interest is dead in the water, as he said: "We never agreed with Liverpool any deal to be able to speak to Andy Carroll to see if he would join us.

"Whatever deal we put forward to Liverpool was not agreed to by Liverpool.

"He would have been a massive signing for us and, like everything else, when you see an opportunity you try to go for it.

"Then you get onto negotiations and once that is exhausted you move on, which was a lot sooner than people actually talked about in the media.

"The negotiations were over in a couple of weeks or so regarding whether Andy was or wasn't going to come to West Ham."

Clarke - I Was Sacked By Reds

West Bromwich Albion head coach Steve Clarke has revealed he was sacked by Liverpool and would otherwise not necessarily have left the club.

The Scot is preparing to face his former employers on the opening day of the new Premier League season just months after previously working as Kenny Dalglish's assistant at Anfield.

Dalglish was fired in May but Clarke claims he was not shown the door at the same time and there was a chance he might have worked on the backroom staff of Brendan Rodgers.

"I had a chat with Brendan after Kenny had left. We did not go at the same time," said Clarke in The Times ahead of hosting Liverpool on Saturday at The Hawthorns.

"At the time, Brendan told me, 'do not walk away, because maybe we can work together'.

"From there, Brendan pulled out of the race, then came back in. Whatever happened, he got the job. But I actually got sacked by Liverpool.

"After they took Brendan in they must have decided to resign the whole staff.

"That is part and parcel of football. A new manager goes in, the owners wanted to start afresh. I was not lined up to go to Albion.

"I was fortunate there were still two or three jobs available in the Premier League and I managed to get this one."

Rodgers To Bolster Ranks

Brendan Rodgers claims to be closing in on a couple of new additions to his Liverpool squad, with movement expected in the next 48 hours.

The Reds have already completed deals for Fabio Borini and Joe Allen this summer, but further strengthening is required if the club is to challenge for a top-four finish.

Rodgers is aware of the need to bolster his ranks and claims to be working hard to push deals through.

He is confident those efforts will have produced positive results by the time Liverpool get their 2012/13 Premier League campaign underway against West Brom on Saturday.

Rodgers told the club's official website: "There has been a lot of great work done behind the scenes, enquiring about players.

"I'll find out (more) later, to be honest.

"We hope in the next couple of days we'll have one or two coming in, which is great - players that can come in and help the ones that are here. Hopefully in the next 48 hours we'll find out."

Rodgers believes the squad he is assembling is capable of pushing for UEFA Champions League qualification this season, but appreciates that competition for a limited number of places towards the top of the table is fierce.

He said: "For us it's about being competitive this year in every competition we're in. The challenge at the top of the table is greater than ever.

"It was the top two, the top three, then the top four. Now there are seven or eight teams involved in that.

"The top four is certainly not something we'll shy away from. It's where a club of this status wants to be, but it's always easier said than done. The reality over the past three seasons or so hasn't been that.

"It's important that if you don't have the money, you have got to be different. That's the idea of trying to find a style. One of the ways in which we can hopefully gain an edge is in how we play and control and dominate games.

"I've got some wonderful players here, some world-class players, and I'm excited about the young players that are coming through. There are always ways in which you are trying to make the difference.

"Everyone wants the money but you can't always have the money. But it won't stop our hunger and desire to improve and be better, and one of the ways in which we'll look to do that is to define our model of play."

Allen In Line For Reds Debut

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits new signing Joe Allen is in his thoughts for Saturday's Premier League opener against West Brom.

The midfielder has followed Rodgers from Swansea to Anfield this summer, with the Reds putting a big-money deal in place to bring him to Merseyside.

Allen has had a week to find his feet in new surroundings and the Wales international could now make his debut at The Hawthorns.

Asked if the 22-year-old is in contention for a starting berth, Rodgers told the club's official website: "Yes.

"We got the go ahead (to sign him) at the weekend and then he went away with his international team.

"I'm sure he's enjoyed his first couple of days here. Like I said to him, I was afforded a great welcome here by the people, the players have been brilliant since I've been here - and I'm sure it's been likewise for him, but you'll need to ask him that."

Rodgers admits he already has a starting XI in mind, but will check on the fitness of those in his plans before sending his troops into battle.

He said: "I normally have a good idea in relation to what the team will be, but there are obviously considerations I'll need to make in the next couple of days in terms of players coming back and their fitness.

"In terms of tactics and my thoughts on the game, I've already got my team in mind."

Rodgers added: "We had 16 players training on Wednesday morning, and we've obviously got a number to come back Thursday afternoon after the internationals. Touch wood, they'll all come out of that quite well.

"The players are looking fit, they look strong, and the intensity in their work has been very, very good."

Rodgers Awaits Loan Move News

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hopes to find out in the "next 48 hours" whether loan moves for Nuri Sahin and Cristian Tello have been successful.

Rodgers refused to disclose names, but has made enquiries for Barcelona winger Tello and Real Madrid midfielder Sahin.

"We hope in the next couple of days we'll have one or two coming in," the 39-year-old said. "Hopefully in the next 48 hours we will find out."

Rodgers added there was nothing imminent on players leaving the club.

Playmaker Sahin, 23, has struggled to make an impression at the Bernabeu since he arrived from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund last summer, and head coach Jose Mourinho has said he is free to find a new club.

Barcelona are believed to be open to the idea of allowing Spain youth international Tello, 21, the chance to gain first-team experience at another club.

Since Rodgers took over at Anfield he has brought in striker Fabio Borini and midfielder Joe Allen, both of whom he worked with at Swansea.

Previous manager Kenny Dalglish spent more than £100m during his tenure, but Rodgers has no qualms about operating on a much smaller budget as he attempts to lift Liverpool above their eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season.

He said: "These things take time. There has been a lot of great work going on behind the scenes enquiring about players but the reality is we did not have the money this year.

"We had a certain budget we had to work within and even to get those one or two players we had to move one or two out.

"That is something which does not worry or frustrate me, it is the real world we are in here. It just means we have to be effective with the players we have."

Liverpool Agree Assaidi Deal

Liverpool has reached an agreement with Heerenveen to sign winger Oussama Assaidi, subject to the player passing a medical.

The Morocco international, who has scored 20 goals in 68 appearances for the Eredivisie side, is poised to become Brendan Rodgers' third signing of the summer after Fabio Borini and Joe Allen.

Liverpool confirmed the agreement on their official website on Thursday evening, with the 24-year-old to undergo a medical at Melwood.

Assaidi, who joined Heerenveen from De Graafschap in 2008, has been capped 22 times for Morocco since making his international debut in February 2011.

He has previously been linked with a move to the Premier League with Fulham, as well as Dutch champions Ajax.

Liverpool Consider Tottenham Hotspur Pair

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants to bring one of Tottenham Hotspur duo Michael Dawson and Steven Caulker to Anfield, if Daniel Agger leaves the club.

Liverpool has resisted the Premier League champions’ offers for the Danish international, having already turned down a bid thought to be in the region of £20 million.

Agger revealed that he would like to stay at the club, but admitted he knew the decision was in the hands of the Liverpool hierarchy.

Agger may have also attracted the attention of Barcelona, after disclosing that the Catalan giants are the only other club the defender could see himself playing for.

Metro report that Brendan Rodgers is preparing a list of possible replacements in response, and considers Dawson or Caulker viable targets.

Tottenham signed former Ajax captain and Dutch international Jan Vertonghen earlier in the summer for £10 million, and he is expected to partner Younes Kaboul, who excelled last season, in the heart of defence.

20-year-old Caulker enjoyed an impressive campaign on loan at Swansea City last season, which preceded another eye-catching showing for Team GB at this summer’s London 2012 games.

Metro suggest he could be available on loan again this season, which may be of interest of Rodgers, who has already investigated the loan market, eyeing short term deals for Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin and Barcelona’s Cristian Tello.

Michael Dawson, who spent most of the 2011/12 season out through injury, may find his route to the first team slightly more difficult, with Frenchman William Gallas still at the club too, and may be considered a more realistic option for Rodgers.

Liverpool Midfielder Linked With Shock Switch To Everton

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam is being linked with a shock switch across town to Merseyside rivals Everton.

According to the Mirror, Adam could be sold for as little as £5 million, as Liverpool plan to bring in Real Madrid star Nuri Sahin on an initial season long loan.

Adam, who announced himself in the Premier League two years ago with Blackpool, has reportedly been informed by new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers that he is not a guaranteed started and that increased competition in the squad may see his game time severely restricted.

The stance could well see Adam become the first player since Gary Ablett to make the switch across town, with Everton boss David Moyes known to be an admirer of the 26 year-old.

Everton were in the running to sign the former Rangers player when he was available last summer, but were priced out of a deal. However, following the recent departure of Jack Rodwell to Manchester City for an estimated £15 million, Moyes will be handed the cash to strengthen his squad before the end of the summer.

Cole Back In Training

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is happy with his fitness after returning to training following an injury sustained in the Europa League clash with Gomel.

Cole picked up a hamstring problem in the first leg of the qualifying round tie earlier this month and had to be withdrawn midway through the first half as a precaution.

But he has now given Brendan Rodgers a boost by coming back to train with the rest of the squad and, having only missed a fortnight, he is feeling good once again.

The 30-year-old is looking to play as regularly as possible for the Reds after working hard over the summer to get himself in shape.

"I trained on Thursday for the first time after the injury and it feels good," Cole told the club's official website.

"It's good to be back around the squad and available for selection again. I've only missed two weeks, so I feel good fitness-wise as we had a good long pre-season and I just need some games now.

"It was frustrating having to come off in the first game of the season but that's one of those things you have to deal with as a footballer.

"There's never a good time to get injured but luckily it wasn't a major thing and I'm back now raring to go and raring to be part of the team.

"I've had a good pre-season. I've trained really well and the training was really intense. I really enjoyed the games we played in and playing at Fenway Park was great. I enjoyed the pre-season.

"It does what it says on the tin - it gets you fit and that's the main thing."

Agger Admits Barca Admiration

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is being linked with a move to Barcelona after admitting his admiration for the Spanish giants.

The centre-back has looked set for the Anfield exit throughout the summer and has been the target of bids from Premier League champions Manchester City.

Agger, though, has seen the offers rejected by Liverpool, who are thought to value the Dane at close to £30million, and the player himself has seemingly snubbed City by stating he is in happy on Merseyside.

But in a latest twist, the £5.8million January 2006 signing from Brondby has now surprisingly admitted he would find it hard to say no to Barcelona.

Agger is quoted as saying by Ekstra Bladet: "Playing for Barcelona would be a huge accomplishment. They have the best team in the world so that is a given.

"But I am very happy here (Liverpool). I feel that I have a good place in the club and that I have a lot of influence on the pitch."

Henry Fires Reds Warning

John W Henry believes Liverpool have a long way to go to make up for the mismanagement of the club by their previous owners.

Henry claims there is still much work to be done, both on and off the pitch, to get the Reds heading in the right direction following the buyout by The Fenway Sports Group (FSG) in October 2010.

Henry has revealed how he and business partner Tom Werner, had serious doubts about the acquisition while undertaking due diligence, before eventually buying the club from Tom Hicks and George Gillett for £300m.

He is convinced that without their intervention, the Anfield giants were heading towards administration under the stewardship of unpopular American duo, while warning that it will a long time before they close the gap on arch rivals Manchester United.

Henry, who's FSG also own the Boston Red Sox, told the Liverpool Echo: "The best analogy is that you can't turn an ocean liner around like you can turn a speedboat.

"When you look at the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United, Liverpool isn't holding up its side of the rivalry.

"That is the way it was with the Red Sox and the New York Yankees. The Yankees were just completely dominant when we arrived.

"Looking back at the day we bought Liverpool, I was trying to make a point then about how much of a challenge it was going to be because of the issues we inherited.

"We had a lack of depth in the squad and some really high payrolls. We also had issues with the age of the players and so forth. We knew it was going to be very difficult.

"Tom and I went for a long walk and we had to make the decision: Are we going to buy Liverpool? We had to decide whether we really wanted to take this on because we knew this was a huge challenge.

"A much larger challenge than any supporter could know. We had done due diligence and looked at how the situation was financially, with the player contracts and the youth system. The further we went into it, the more sobered we were."

LFC Secure Two New Partnership Deals

Liverpool FC today announced that it is entering into two new betting partnership deals with Paddy Power and 188BET.

Paddy Power will become the club's official betting partner for the UK, Ireland and Italy, with 188BET becoming the club's official international betting partner.

Both parties have signed two-year agreements, which take them through until the end of the 2013-14 Premier League season. They will both enjoy an extensive, but distinguished, suite of rights. The structure of the deals reflect the evolution in Liverpool's ability to offer fans a geo-targeted betting experience, and the club is proud to announce these two deals simultaneously.

These deals follow two other recent partnership agreements for Liverpool with Chevrolet, the club's official automotive partner, and Garuda Indonesia, the official global airline. The club has enjoyed a partnership with Paddy Power previously, whilst 188BET is the club's incumbent, exclusive global betting partner.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool Football Club's managing director, said: "We're delighted to welcome Paddy Power back to the LFC family and continue our successful relationship with 188BET.

"The betting category has always been an area where the club has enjoyed great success, particularly in the digital space. We took the decision to invest heavily in our website in order to accommodate multiple betting partners, and that decision is vindicated in the uplift in fees that we have seen.

"Liverpool FC has a huge international following so we are glad to be able to help fans enjoy their betting experience wherever they are around the world. We look forward to working with both parties to support our mutual goals."

Paddy Power, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: "We've built our name on our commitment to offering unbeatable value and entertainment, not least through our money-back specials and justice pay-outs, which have seen us give millions back to punters over the years.

"Liverpool FC share this history and passion for delighting fans above all else and therefore we're extremely excited to partner with them."

Nigel Singer, 188BET's managing director, said: "We are delighted to extend the partnership and excellent working relationship with Liverpool FC. The club has been a key driver for us to engage football fans, both in the UK and globally, over the past three seasons.

"Liverpool FC is an iconic global sports brand and this extension of our partnership represents a perfect fit for the 188BET international brand strategy. Our continuing status as the international betting partner ensures that 188BET customers and Liverpool FC's fans, globally, will benefit from exclusive promotions, exciting content and great gaming prices on every Liverpool FC game.

"We are looking forward to working closely with the club to ensure this partnership brings continued success for both parties."

Rodgers - I've Lots To Prove

Brendan Rodgers is pleased with the start he has made to his Liverpool career, but is determined to keep fighting to prove he is good enough to be in the job.

Liverpool plumped for Rodgers to replace Kenny Dalglish earlier in the summer and the former Swansea manager has enjoyed a winning start to his tenure.

Victories in both legs over FC Gomel have set up a Europa League play-off date with Hearts later this month, while the Premier League season begins on Saturday against West Brom.

Rodgers is aware that he may still have to win over some skeptical Liverpool fans following just one season of top-flight management before his Anfield appointment.

However, Rodgers has vowed to give his all to bring success to the club and is eager to build on a promising beginning to his career on Merseyside.

"I do feel at home but I will never be complacent," said Rodgers after Sunday's friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen. "I will come in and I'm sure the majority of supporters are still not sure about me.

"I've got so much to prove here. I have got to fight for my life to prove I am good enough to be here. I feel comfortable in relation to my position and work on the field. My promise was to fight for the club every single day.

"We're in a good moment and a good position. We've had a terrific pre-season and we've already started our competitive games in the Europa League. We now arrive into the Barclays Premier League next week with a real strong mindset and hopefully that can continue.

"Certainly, I am very, very pleased with where we're at. The players have shown great determination and they want to learn. They're very happy to work in this way.

"I am delighted with where we're at because I know the vision and where this leads too, and hopefully it will continue to improve."