EDINBURGH: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers revealed Andy Carroll missed their 1-0 win over Hearts in the Europa League this morning with a hamstring problem.

Carroll (pic) failed to make the squad for the play-off first leg in Edinburgh, despite his presence at the stadium, with the £35million striker linked with a return to Newcastle.

However, Rodgers says Carroll was set to start the game, and he remains hopeful he will be fit for Sunday's Premier League visit of champions Manchester City.

"Andy was due to start. He had a slight twinge on his hamstring. We had a scan on it and it didn't show a tear, just a slight disruption," Rodgers told Sky Sports.

"We tried to give him 48 hours, let him travel and he trained yesterday to see how it was. It was still a bit tight and the medics' advice was it was too much of a risk for him to play.

"It was unfortunate because he has worked well and I know he was desperate to play.

"Hopefully missing the game tonight will allow him to recover for the weekend."

An own goal from Andy Webster with 12 minutes to go was all that separated the two sides this morning and Rodgers refused to concede the outcome of the tie is now a foregone conclusion in the second leg at Anfield next week.

"We always respect every opponent. We're not that good to be that complacent to be honest. We've got an awful lot of work to do but I was delighted for the players tonight," said Rodgers.

"Once they got the positioning right in the second half, they were excellent at times.

"It was great for me to see some of the players who haven't been playing so much, some of our young talent as well.

"All round it was a good win and another clean sheet, which is important."

- mD