Rodgers: Swansea Cup Tie Will Be Special Occasion

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says their home cup tie against his former club Swansea City will be a 'special occasion'.

It was just meant to be, after the two clubs progressed through to the 4th round of the Capital One Cup, they were drawn to face each other with the tie to be played on the week commencing 29th October.

There's surely going to be a mixed reception for Brendan Rodgers from the army of Swansea supporters expected to make the trip North to Anfield. Whilst some fans hold a grudge for his decision to depart the Liberty Stadium in May, others are grateful for his achievements during his short two-year spell in South Wales.

Rodgers shared his reaction to facing his former club in the League Cup:

'The Swansea game will be a special occasion, very much so. It is a wonderful club, a brilliant club, and I was in no rush to leave there.

'I could only leave there to go to another special club. It will be a great night.

'I think in the competition you prefer home games so to play Swansea at Anfield, in front of two wonderful sets of supporters, it will be a great night.

'I said to the players afterwards that the cup is stored at Anfield and I don't want to give it up too easy.

'I want us to fight even thought it is difficult because of our lack of depth in the group.

'It is a competition we want to do well in. Of course, we will be really stretched with the Europa League, Premier League between now and January.

'But the nature of this club is we want to win every game and, if we get a few young players out of it (the Capital One Cup), it will really help us moving forward.'

Both managers are expected to make big changes to their usual starting eleven for the cup tie, but they both recognise the importance of the other competitions. Rodgers benefits by taking a look at his younger players - something he is always keen to do - while Laudrup can also give his fringe players a game to keep them motivated.

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