LONDON: Manager Brendan Rodgers was thrilled with the developing partnership shown by strikers Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over FC Gomel in the Europa League return leg qualifying round at Anfield this morning.

The Reds won 1-0 in the first leg.

Uruguay international Suarez only returned to Melwood on Monday, having spent the summer on London Olympics duty.

And, despite having a busy pre-season schedule, Rodgers threw Suarez into the action and was delighted with the response he got from the player as he linked up well with new signing Borini (pic).

"Suarez is an incredible player. He has come back and looked great in training,"said Rodgers.

“I thought tonight his creativity and imagination around the box, but not only that his pressing on the ball whenever we lost it was very good. That’s the type of player I love, this is a guy who’s in love with football.

His passion for the game is immense and he’s a great reference for the team. You see his brightness and cleverness, his combinations with Steven Gerrard and Borini coming from the outside inside.”

Rodgers was also delighted with Borini, who marked his Anfield debut with a maiden goal in an impressive individual performance.

The Italy international completed his switch from Roma in July and his manager was thrilled at how quickly the 21-year-old settled into the team.

“He’s fitting in really well. He’s an intelligent boy, you can see he has a really good relationship on and off the field with Gerrard so you see the combinations and how they work. I thought he took his goal really well, it was a difficult finish.

“But I thought the star of the team was the team and that’s how it must be for us.

"I think for strikers it is important to score. Strikers are normally judged on goals and games and that’s why I brought Borini here because I know he can score goals. He’s only young, he’s 21, and he’s got a lot of improvement to come which was a big factor in bringing him here."


- mD