Brendan Rodgers hails James Milner, Jordan Henderson

Meanwhile, Liverpool will kick-start the 2015/16 Premier League season with a trip to the Britannia Stadium as they face Stoke City on 9 August.

Brendan Rodgers has appointed James Milner as Liverpool’s new vice-captain.

Milner joined Liverpool from Manchester City earlier this summer and has impressed throughout pre-season gaining the appreciation of his manager and club teammates. “In terms of the captaincy and vice-captaincy, I think it can work really well for us”, Rodgers told Sky Sports News. When there was a possibility he might be available you’re surprised but you’re hoping you can get him to come to your club. He has big character and I felt we needed that in the team.

New Liverpool signing James Milner has been handed the vice-captaincy just 38 days after joining the club.

“Obviously there is good energy in there with the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner, but I do think Liverpool could maybe use an extra specialist midfield player”.

I am a fan of Benteke and I think he will do remarkably well for Liverpool this season. He’s got great experience, is great technically and has great ability.

Silverware as always should be the goal and given the strength of our squad, in particular where it matters most, I do not think I am completely deluded when I say, we should be winning a trophy this season.

“I think [experience] will only help, especially the younger lads”.

Lovren starting worries me and I do not particularly want to have to go through all that again but Rodgers is hellbent on going through that all again, so we have to indulge this experiment a little more, but with attacking options at our disposal all over the park, including at the fullback positions, we should see a return to the 13/14 blow the opposition out of the water territory.

Rodgers has been full of praise for Henderson too, enthusing about the way he has taken to the role of captain so far.

The skipper now believes that Milner will become a vital player in the Reds’ attempts to climb back up the league, mainly due to his experiences with City and also his natural talent, which allows him to play on either wing or as a central midfielder.

Liverpool head into Sunday’s contest eager to make something of a statement after their poor 2014-15 campaign – which saw them finish sixth in the Premier League, a year on from coming second – concluded with a humiliating 6-1 defeat at Stoke.