Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has defended his team selection for his side's 1-0 defeat to Anzhi Makhachkala this evening.

Rodgers opted to leave a host of first-team players, including Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, at home in favour of a team with an average age of under 24.

However, the former Swansea boss believes that his youngsters played "magnificently" other than the one mistake that cost them the points, and that suggesting he should have brought the likes of Gerrard and Suarez was unfair on the players he did choose.

"Not at all. I think that is a little disrespectful to the players who are here," said the Northern Irishman.

"They have been magnificent and I thought they did really well and we just got punished for a mistake. That led to us losing the game but I don't think it was anything to do with Suarez, Gerrard, Joe Allen, Martin Skrtel or Daniel Agger not being here.

"It was just one of those things. We will take it as a team, we are disappointed but there are so many positives from tonight."

The result lifts Anzhi to the top of Group A with seven points, while Liverpool sit second, level on points with Young Boys.