Boss backs Ings if United chance comes
Brendan Rodgers has total faith that Danny Ings can rise to the challenge of facing Manchester United if the summer signing is given an opportunity at Old Trafford this evening.
The striker made his first competitive appearance for Liverpool as a second-half substitute during the home defeat against West Ham United a fortnight ago.
He managed to impress in his half-hour in front of the Kop too, despite being unable to prevent the Reds from ultimately succumbing to a disappointing 3-0 loss.
Philippe Coutinho’s red card in the same game means Rodgers will have to make a change in his attacking set-up for the much-anticipated clash with United.
Ings’ debut cameo has made him a candidate to replace his Brazilian teammate and the manager declared his belief in the former Burnley man as he previewed tonight’s encounter.
“Danny scored there last year, and he’s been a real bright spark since he came in,” Rodgers told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
“He knows he’s going to need time for him to come in and adapt to the club.
“But I would have no qualms if I wanted to play him to pick him in the team, because he's a threat to the goal, he presses really well, he works hard and in and around the 18-yard box he has got the quality to score a goal.
“So I would have no hesitation of playing him if I felt that he could come into the team.”
Liverpool’s last visit to Old Trafford, in December 2014, saw Rodgers’ charges produce a catalogue of chances but suffer a harsh 3-0 reversal.
The team that lines up for the Reds this time around will contain a host of different faces to nine months ago but without a change in collective approach.
The boss added: “Of course, we have Coutinho missing, who is a real catalyst for the team.
“But we still have quality and we still have players to bring in who have got high levels of technique. They are different types but there is no less quality.
“It's obviously very early on in the season and a lot of them are adjusting to the work here. But I've got great confidence that over the course of the season they will show the qualities that they have.
“There are different attributes to the team but we will always look to work in a similar manner, even though we have different players.”