League remains priority for Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers insists Europe is only a sideshow to Liverpool's overwhelming priority - the Barclays Premier League.

The Reds open their Europa League campaign with the first leg of their third qualifying round clash with Belarus' FC Gomel on Thursday night. Rodgers, overseeing his first competitive match as Liverpool boss, embraces the competition, but insists the Premier League dominates the club's thinking.

"I don't want to disrespect the Europa League, but there's no doubt the league is our priority and we want to finish as high as we possibly can," he told the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.com.

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