Liverpool News: Reds On Right Track For Premier League Season, Says Brendan Rodgers

Brendon Rodgers was pleased with Liverpool's performance in the preseason friendly against Olympiakos and insisted that the Reds are on the right track for of the upcoming English Premier League season.

Rodgers used Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard, Kolo Toure, Daniel Sturridge, Lazar Markovic and Jordan Henderson, who played for full 90 minutes, in a 1-0 victory over the Greek side and was delighted with their showing.

"I've been delighted," the Reds boss said. "I know this group well and know the players coming in are suited and will fit what we're trying to do. The most important date for me is the Southampton game. Come that game, we'll be ready - the players have shown they're well on track towards that."

Rodgers pointed out the performance of Sturridge, who will have to take over the goalscoring mantle from Luis Suarez, and insisted that playing for England in the World Cup has increased his confidence.

"I've seen a difference in Daniel since he came back," Rodgers said. "He has obviously got confidence from the World Cup and his season last year. I think he's ready to take on the mantle. He got 20-odd goals last season so he's a striker of great value."

The Reds boss was also satisfied with new signing Markovic's performance and said that he will become stronger with every match. Markovic recently signed for the Anfield club from Benfica,

"Markovic will only get better and better," he added. "He showed great strength when he burst through and hopefully later on when he picks up that speed and sharpness in his game, he'll go on and finish that. We've got good speed. Raheem Sterling is always a threat - he's a joy to watch. I thought those three were really exciting."

The performance of Sterling and Markovic have come as good news for Rodgers, who has lost striker Adam Lallana for six weeks because of a knee injury. Lallana is expected to be sidelined for Liverpool's first three Premier League games against Southampton, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

The English international recently joined the squad, after his £23.6 million transfer from Southampton this summer, and suffered the injury during a training drill. Rodgers, however, insisted that he has no intension of rushing Lallana onto the field and will give him enough time to recover.

"Of course it was very disappointing - it's probably going to be four to six weeks," Rodgers said. "He has looked fantastic in training; it was just a very simple exercise with no pressure. The medical team are looking closely at that at the moment."

"We're hopeful that he'll come back fairly quickly, but there's no rush," he insisted. "He's a fantastic player; we just need to get him back fit and well because it's a long season."