The Northern Irish manager has promised to treat the Capital One Cup tie with the same level of respect and care as Sunday’s clash with Premier League champions Manchester United

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool will be fully focused on beating Notts County when the sides meet in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.

Liverpool failed to fire in cup competitions last season, crashing out in the fourth round in both domestic cups, while also finishing seventh in the Premier League.

Rodgers has led Liverpool to wins in their opening two league fixtures and they face Manchester United on Sunday, leading to suggestions wholesale changes could be made to keep the squad fresh.

However, Rodgers has rubbished claims he would take his eye off the Notts County game, claiming he will treat the encounter just as he would the upcoming meeting with David Moyes’ side.

“We will treat Notts County with the same respect as United. We want to do well in the cup competitions this year,” he said.

“We will always respect whatever opponent we play, no matter what division they are in. Our focus is on ourselves to get the job done and get in the next round.

“The core of our team will be there. If there is an opportunity to recover one or two players who have niggles, then we will look at that – but we will have a strong side out.

“It’s very much at the forefront of our minds to go for silverware.

“I made some mistakes last season in terms of changing the team. The league is the No1 priority but this is a club based around cup competitions and trophies.”

The Magpies travel to Merseyside on Tuesday to face the Reds in the Capital One Cup, with Hugh Wilson backing a straightforward victory for Brendan Rodgers’ men

Liverpool welcome Notts County to Anfield on Tuesday with both sides having contrasting starts to their seasons.

While Liverpool have a 100 per cent record so far, County have struggled in League One and are yet to win a match, with their only victory this season coming in the first round of the CApital One Cup against League Two side Fleetwood Town.

The Magpies were not handed the easiest of starts though, playing away to Sheffield United, before facing a rampant Peterborough side at Meadow Lane.

County then travelled to Walsall, where they won their only point of the season in a 1-1 draw. This will be a tough ask for them tonight, with Coral pricing them at 16/1 (17.00) to cause a major upset.

Liverpool have looked very solid so far this season, beating Stoke City and Aston Villa 1-0. Brendan Rodgers strengthened his defence over the summer bringing in the likes of Kolo Toure and Simon Mignolet, who has had a fantastic start to the season.

With Daniel Sturridge netting both their goals this season, it appears as though they are yet to miss the suspended Luis Suarez. Liverpool have been strong in the Capital One Cup in recent years, winning the competition back in the 2011-12 campaign. Coral price them at 1/6 (1.17) to take victory on Tuesday, while the same firm has the draw at 11/2 (6.50).

With Liverpool extremely short, it’s tough to find many bets that offer value. One that does stand out is Liverpool to win to nil at 4/5 (1.80) with Coral. The Reds have done this in both of their matches this season, and with Notts County struggling for form, this price is certainly worth taking advantage of.  

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Only one summer signing made it into our Premier League Team of the Week but more than one man makes the cut following a return to the top flight from the lower echelons of English football.

Cardiff City were undoubtedly the story of the second round of matches, their dramatic 3-2 toppling of many people’s favourites for the title, Manchester City, stealing the headlines while two men in particular distinguished themselves.

Fraizer Campbell, let go by Sunderland in January to help push Malky Mackay’s side over the Championship promotion line last season, made an explosive comeback to the top level with two decisive goals at Cardiff City Stadium, heading home twice from corners. His game consisted of so much more than the opportunistic finishes, however, as he harried a fine back line all afternoon and earned his standout 4.5 match rating – a sweet afternoon indeed for the former Manchester United man.

Though many of his Bluebirds team-mates have a case for inclusion in our XI, club-record signing Gary Medel (4) makes the grade. The Chilean is clearly settling into life in English football quickly, putting on a magnificent defensive display in midfield to marshal City’s creative forces.

Another promoted side to secure an important first win of the season were Hull City Tigers, who shut down the much-reinforced Norwich City forward line to bank three points. James Chester (3.5) made some key tackles at the back and the former Man Utd youngster represents Steve Bruce’s side in our team of the week.

The weekend’s action kicked off on Saturday lunchtime at Fulham, where Arsenal continued to fight back against their critics with a dominant performance. Santi Cazorla (4) provided the inspiration with a brilliant show in the playmaker role, displaying shooting intent and a killer pass for the third goal in a 3-1 win.

That third was scored by Lukas Podolski (4), who also demonstrated his predator’s instincts with the opener, both left-footed strikes. The German combined well with Olivier Giroud as he shook off talk of a move to Schalke.

When it came to Monday night, there was less excitement on offer as Manchester United and Chelsea ground out a 0-0 draw but Nemanja Vidic (3.5) at least had a game of which to be proud. Though the Blues did not field any of their most prominent strikers from the off, the Serbian dealt astutely with the pace of Andre Schurrle and did more than most to ensure no chances of note for Jose Mourinho’s men.

Behind Vidic in our XI is goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (4). Looking to secure his No.1 status after Simon Mignolet’s summer departure to Liverpool, the Sunderland man made a star of himself with a series of fine saves against a Southampton side desperately trying to claw themselves back from an early goal. From the routine to the spectacular, Westwood was unfortunate not to come out of his performance a winner.

On the other side of the pitch, however, was an equally impressive figure in Southampton teenager James Ward-Prowse (4). Enjoying an attacking role on the right flank in the early stages of the season, the latest academy-grown Saints starlet was a constant threat with his deliveries and got his reward as he set up Jose Fonte’s equalising header with a free kick.

Though few attackers looked like breaking through in a dogged match at St James’ Park, Newcastle full-back Davide Santon (3.5) was the pick of the bunch in their 0-0 draw with West Ham. Offering the most forward instinct of arguably anyone in a Magpies shirt, the Italian continues to grow in stature on Tyneside.

Buoyed after a promising-but-in-vain loan spell at QPR last season, Andros Townsend (4) looks like having a greater influence at Tottenham this year and he showed his worth in a tight game against Swansea City. Brimming with confidence, the young winger was constantly running and shooting – and it was he who won the decisive penalty as Spurs kept up their winning start.

Finally, the forward line is completed by the only man who returns from our week-one TOTW, Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge (4). Flourishing in the continued absence of the banned Luis Suarez, the England international tested Aston Villa throughout and scored the difference-making goal with a classy finish after rounding Brad Guzan. The 100 per cent TOTW record is still on…