Brendan Rodgers believes the early start of competitive football for his side in the Europa League can have an advantageous impact heading into the opening of the Barclays Premier League season.

The boss leads the Reds back into Europe in Belarus on Thursday for the first leg of the third qualifying round clash with FC Gomel, and he insists it is a great step-up in fitness for his players.

“We are still finding our fitness and our match fitness, but of course I think playing these games helps us and will give us that edge going into the beginning of this season,” Rodgers told Liverpoolfc.com.

“Players at this level are competitive so they love the competition. Even though we are still gaining fitness it’s a competitive game and it’s a tournament we would like to do well in.

“It’s a bit of a hike and we’ve got to get on our travels again, but that’s life and you’ve just got to get on with it. We are looking forward to the game and hopefully it will serve us well for the beginning of the season.”

In terms of his priorities for Liverpool this season, Rodgers insists the Premier League remains the No.1 focus.

He added: “I don’t want to disrespect the competition (Europa League) but there’s no doubt the league is our priority and we want to finish as high as we possibly can.

“The Europa League is a competition we’d like to do well in. Obviously to do well in it you’ve got to play a lot of games and hopefully that will be the case, as when you play for Liverpool every tournament and every game is a priority.

“I never look too further than the next game and that is Belarus on Thursday and we are looking forward to it.”

Besides the clash with FC Gomel being Rodgers’ first competitive game in charge of the Reds, it also marks his first outing as a manager in Europe.

He said: “It’s great because it takes me into Europe as a manager for the first time. I’ve obviously coached younger teams all across the world and the reality is the tactics don’t really change so much  –  the difference being there are pressures on the game because it’s at senior level, but it’s great for me because every manager needs a start.

“In my early years as manager so far I’ve loved every minute and now this is the next challenge to go into Europe, and to lead a team like Liverpool is fantastic.”

The challenge of facing FC Gomel represents something of a trip into the unknown but Rodgers and his backroom staff are well prepared on what to expect in Belarus.

He added: “We have done our homework on them. They have done well to qualify for this stage, the pitch looks nice, they play a 4-2-3-1 system but for us it’s always what we do ourselves and that is always my focus.

“I always respect the opponent we play and never underestimate them but I’m a big believer in focusing on our own game and maximising how we play the game. If we do that then I believe throughout the course of the season we’ll have a chance of winning every game.”

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Fabio Borini may have only been a Liverpool player for a matter of weeks, but the Italy international has revealed he already feels settled at the club.

The 21-year-old became Brendan Rodgers’ first signing as Reds boss in July and joined up with his new teammates in the second week of our recent North America tour having cut short his summer break.

Now back on Merseyside, Borini is hoping to secure a new apartment in the coming weeks as he adjusts to his new surroundings – but at Melwood, the forward is already feeling part of the group.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: “It is a really good group of honest people here and they’re really nice guys.

“I got inside the group very quickly and they’ve helped me (settle). If I need something, I’ll ask no problem and they’ll show me.

“Stevie G and Carragher are the key men and the key players of the club, Glen Johnson is always helping me, Joe Cole does too because I knew him before I came here.

“Dani Pacheco has maybe helped me the most because I stayed with him in the hotel and he has shown me around the city centre.

“I am looking for an apartment now. I’ve already got a car and phone and  I am trying to settle very quickly so I’ll just need to think about and focus on football. That is the most important thing.

“The lads have already told me about an Italian – San Carlo in the city centre. I’ve been there once already with Dani Pacheco and Suso and it was very nice!”

So eager to join up with the Liverpool squad, Borini declined the option of an extended break following his involvement with Italy’s run to the Euro 2012 final.

“It was a little bit tough to start training again because I didn’t have much rest, but it was more mentally than physically,” he explained. “Even though I didn’t play at the Euros, I always trained and got myself mentally ready for an opportunity.

“I got three weeks of holidays and then I wanted to come back earlier to be with the team. It was my choice, but I am happy with it. Now I just need some time to get back physically, and that’s normal.”

After almost a week of training in Boston, Borini was handed his Reds bow in Saturday’s goalless draw with Tottenham at the M&T Bank Stadium.

He said: “It felt quite good to make my debut. It’s an important shirt and the first thing I need to worry about is the front of the shirt (the badge) rather than the back (the name).

“That is the most important thing to show the people – and also to me because when you wear a shirt, what is on the front is more important than what’s on the back.

“It’s an historic club and has won so many trophies in the past, and it wants to win just as many in the future.

“This is a really good target to try and reach. Because Liverpool is a great club in England and all over the world, it gives you more power and strength to do more. It’s a great achievement for me and I hope to show many qualities here.”

Liverpool were well supported throughout their tour of North America in Toronto, Boston and Baltimore, and Borini admits he was left blown away by the size of the Reds’ fanbase across the globe.

“It was amazing,” he stated. “I didn’t expect so many supporters in America. I didn’t realise Liverpool had so many supporters away from England.

“It made a good impression and impact on me about the club. I know now about the passion from outside, and I’ll try to bring that inside.”

As well as Borini’s debut, one of the main highlights of Liverpool’s tour was the opportunities handed to the club’s clutch of youngsters by Brendan Rodgers.

Though still of a tender age himself, our new No.29 insists he’ll do all he can to help them in their quest to make a first-team breakthrough.

“I think we’ve got good young players that want to show what they can do, and they’ve got the right attitude to reach the first team one day,” he stated.

“I’ve been in the same position as them and I’ve been in and out of first teams, so I always tell them not to look down and keep their heads up, even if they go back into the reserves because that’s the way of the first team at a top club.

“It’s not a small club, so it’s more difficult to get into the first team and they’ve just got to keep their heads up and keep working because there are more good players here.”

Don’t miss the latest edition of Kop Talkin’ which airs on LFC TV tonight at 9pm BST.

The bulk of sporting focus may be centered on events in London right now but it remains business as normal here in Liverpool. With another big week looming for Brendan Rodgers and his team, there was plenty to keep our guests occupied on the latest edition of Kop Talkin’ which airs for the first time tonight at 9pm.

Matt Critchley is joined in studio by playwright Dave Kirby, Jim Boardman from the Anfield Wrap podcast and another lifelong Red in Alan Parkinson who brought along a unique collection of Liverpool memorabilia.

Among the topics up for discussion were the North American tour, the latest transfer gossip and the start of our Europa League campaign.

Look out also for the fascinating tale of how ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ started to be sung on the Kop.

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