But the Liverpool manager is adamant he will give his young talents the chance to show they can learn from their experience on Sunday.

“I highlighted the younger players because they’ve been given a great opportunity here,” he said.

“They have to understand that with that opportunity comes a responsibility that every game you have to perform.

“The young players know they have a manager here who is 150% behind them. But I’m one where you can’t be too nice to young players as well, especially the modern player.

“The modern player has been brought up differently to other players like the Carraghers and the Gerrards. Being young doesn’t exempt them from criticism.

“But behind all that they know they have a manager who will be up in the room with them going through their mistakes with them individually. We never leave them hanging out to dry.”

Rodgers will at least have his options bolstered for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Arsenal with Glen Johnson, Jose Enrique and Pepe Reina all having returned from injury.

And the Northern Irishman will today move a step nearer to bolstering his squad with Brazilian midfield Coutinho having flown in to Merseyside yesterday.

The 20-year-old will undergo a medical this morning before travelling down to London for a work permit hearing.

Liverpool agreed an £8.5million deal with Inter for the player, who turned down the opportunity to work with former manager Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton.

And the move has the blessing of Inter president Massimo Moratti, who said: “There are opportunities there to be seized. Sometimes certain players need the chance to play more.

“And that's why I think this could be a great opportunity for a Coutinho, and a deal that could go very well for us too.”