Brendan Rodgers: FA should do more for English clubs in Europe

Perhaps you support Arsenal and cheered when Monaco equalised against Spurs?

“It is something we have to cope with and we respect that challenge but it means you really have to monitor and get the best out of the players you have available”.

Rodgers said: “You see Porto last night”.

The true benefactors, however, weren’t those involved in the Champions League.

This gives an extra weight of importance to the Europa League for the clubs who drop into it, as they could be playing for the long-term wellbeing of the fourth Champions League place that they are likely to rely on in the future.

City are away to Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday, but Pellegrini maintains that his side will not lose focus on their domestic ambitions as they bid to achieve European success.

Meanwhile, Steve McClaren’s team ended a run of four consecutive defeats with a draw against Chelsea last weekend, although they could have easily taken all three points and the visitors are on offer at 10/1 (11.00) to secure their first victory of the league season in dramatic style here.

Sturridge now boasts a better Premier League scoring record at Liverpool than the likes of Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler; his 37 goals in 57 appearances representing a goal to game ratio of 0.65, edging second placed Torres’ ratio of 0.64 from 65 goals in 102 appearances.

Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay scored their first league goals of the season against Sunderland – the former ending an 11-game drought – while Juan Mata has come into his own on the right flank, producing three goals and three assists in his last seven outings.

Tottenham Hotspur underlined their “massive” potential by comprehensively beating table-topping Manchester City, but head coach Mauricio Pochettino has told his players to keep calm and carry on.

Add into the mix that United are now able to call upon extra quality bodies in midfield such as Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger and who knows; perhaps the Red Devils can go the distance in the Premier League this season.

Alfred Finnbogason, the Icelandic striker who struck the victor in the Greeks’ 3-2 win believes the European opposition no longer fear the Premier League elite and Arsenal in particular.

“That will continue and I am absolutely sure that we will arrive to be an important team that wins the Champions League”.

Rodgers thinks the week-to-week competitiveness of the Premier League, plus a packed fixture calendar, works against sides when it comes to taking on continental opponents.

“I don’t share this point of view [that the English clubs are terrible] – the hardest thing is the internal competition”. The last time a German club won the UEFA Cup was in 1997 when Schalke 04 defeated Internazionale on penalties. “(Saturday’s game) will be a good opportunity to come back to the Emirates and play our football with possession and dynamism”.