• Champions League

Rodgers ready to rest Gerrard and experiment in Madrid

Brendan Rodgers could rest Steven Gerrard for Liverpool's Champions League game with Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Liverpool lost 3-0 to the European champions at Anfield last month and face a fight to qualify from Group B as they are currently level on just three points with FC Basel and minnows Ludogorets Razgrad.

Steven Gerrard admitted last week that he could leave Liverpool next year © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Liverpool out to prove their doubters wrong in Madrid
  
• News: Bale could start against Liverpool
  
• News: Blaming Balotelli for Liverpool's woes is wrong - Ancelotti
  
• News: No early Liverpool return for Origi
  
• News: Rodgers: We are not lambs to the slaughter
  

Gerrard admitted last week he has yet to be offered a new deal by Liverpool and may not be at the club next season. Although Rodgers claimed he wanted to keep his captain, he may rest him at the Bernabeu with Chelsea up next weekend in the Premier League.

"I don't see it as a gamble. This week and these games against the likes of Real Madrid I see as a great opportunity for the squad - you put them out there and you put your trust in them to perform," Rodgers said.

"In Steven's case, if he is playing on Saturday I have to look at what is the priority for him and us. If he played against Newcastle and didn't play tomorrow night you could say that was the priority.

"Him and I have spoken about that. Three big games, Newcastle, Madrid and then Chelsea. I need to look at a number of players to look at the games we want them to play in.

"But I have also got to look at [the fact] we brought in other players. And there is responsibility. But there is no doubt that our priorities are the Premier League and the Champions League, and always in that order."

Liverpool have come under pressure after a slow start in the Premier League and Europe, despite spending more than £100 million during the summer.

There are suggestions that Raheem Sterling could start on the bench, having played 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, with Rodgers turning to £23.7m Adam Lallana and £20m winger Lazar Markovic.

"I need to find the solutions. If this is a defining game for me, then great. Whatever the result, I will be refocused and hungrier to win the next game," Rodgers added.

"For me, at this moment, if we want to develop we need to ensure we are in the top four but we also want to qualify from this group and we will never know if these players can perform if we don't put them in the team.

"I am putting my faith in these players to perform. That is not being pragmatic. It is why you have a squad to come and get results. I see that we have spent an awful lot of money on players to come in and give them an opportunity to perform.

"If at the end of this cycle of games they haven't performed, they can never say they haven't been given a chance. For me, whether it is Real Madrid, Newcastle or Chelsea, all I will do as the manager is give them that opportunity to perform.

"We have got three high level games in a week and I have to think about that in preparation for the weekend. I also understand that we have to have a team that can come here and win and that is what we want to do."

Jordan Henderson is set to captain Liverpool in Gerrard's absence and has called on the club's younger players to prove they have what it takes.

"We have to show we can put in the performances at the level the club demands," said Henderson

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd