Rodgers under no Pool pressure

Liverpool have been handed a Europa League third qualifying round clash with either Macedonian side FK Renova or FC Gomel of Belarus for their first competitive match under Brendan Rodgers, who will be under no pressure this term to get the team into the Champions League, according to Reds principal owner John Henry.

The Merseysiders — in the Europa League by virtue of winning last season’s Carling Cup — were seeded in Group Two and could have been paired with Dundee United for matches that are set to be played on August 2 and 9.

But instead, following yesterday’s draw, they await the winners of the second qualifying round tie between Gomel and Renova, which the Belarusians lead 2-0 going into the second leg — to be played in Belarus — next Thursday.