Brendan Rodgers shoulders burden

Brendan Rodgers insists he is more than happy to accept Liverpool being the favourites heading into the Merseyside derby.

His Everton counterpart Roberto Martinez tried to turn up the heat on Rodgers by claiming the amount of money he has spent — this summer’s £80m (€108m) outlay was four times what the Toffees spent — means there is far more expectation on the visitors to Goodison Park tomorrow despite their recent form not suggesting as much.

Rodgers dismissed the mind games but accepts his side do have to shoulder that burden.