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If Jose Mourinho was hoping to lull Brendan Rodgers into a false sense of security ahead of Sunday’s crunch Anfield showdown he has failed spectacularly.

The Liverpool FC manager knows the Chelsea boss too well to fall for his pre-match talk about ‘playing the kids’ and giving up on the Premier League title race.

“I don’t think Chelsea will play the kids because they never have done,” Rodgers told the ECHO.

“As a football club they have a wonderful academy there but young players don’t get the opportunity there. That’s one thing you can rule out – there certainly won’t be kids playing.”

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Chelsea may have one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

And the Londoners maybe depleted by injuries to Petr Cech, John Terry, Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o as well as Ramires’ suspension.

But Rodgers insists Mourinho will still field a line up which commands respect as the Reds look to stay on course for the Premier League crown.

“Whatever team they play will be more experienced and will have cost more than ours,” he said.

“I don’t go along with this talk about us facing a weakened Chelsea side. In fact I think it’s quite disrespectful.

“If you are Mohamed Salah, who has been brought in for big money, or Andre Schurrle, who was £20million, or Frank Lampard – if guys like that are out there I don’t think you can call their team weaker.

“I think they will have a different team. But they will be competitive and strong.

“They are the most successful club in British football over the past 10 odd years. They have got winners in their team.

“Jose is a winner and I know he won’t give up. They will fight for the result. I think it will be a tough game, no matter what side he puts out.”

Despite the intensity of the modern rivalry between the two clubs, Rodgers admits he will always owe a debt of gratitude to Mourinho. A decade has passed since the Portuguese made him Chelsea’s head youth coach following a recommendation by Steve Clarke.

It was the opportunity which propelled Rodgers into the limelight. Four years later he took his first steps into management with Watford. Via Reading and Swansea he landed the Liverpool job.

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Now the Northern Irishman, who has masterminded a remarkable transformation at Anfield, is eyeing the victory which would end his mentor’s involvement in the title race.

“When I arrived at Chelsea I’d had 10 years at Reading so my vision and philosophy as a young coach was already in place,” he said. “It was the chance to go to the next level and I was going to a club striving to be one of the leading clubs in the world.

“I got to work with top young players and then eventually Jose gave me the opportunity to work with some of the outstanding senior players who were there.

“Our relationship was strong and it still is. Even though he moved away after three years we remained in contact.

“I learned a lot from Jose in terms of details – in terms of the day to day management of one of the leading clubs in Europe.

“I will always be grateful for that. I have many people I’ve learned from and he was the key one who showed confidence in me. He obviously saw something in me that allowed me and him to flourish. Our communication was open and he knew I was hungry to succeed. He never, ever held me back.

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“He always supported me and encouraged me. We exchanged messages at the beginning of the week but that will be it until after the game.”

Rodgers may have learned some of the tricks of the trade from Mourinho but the style of the managers’ respective sides could hardly be more contrasting.

Liverpool have established a five-point lead at the summit on the back of a scintillating brand of attacking football which has yielded 96 league goals.

Chelsea’s approach has been considerably less eye-catching. They have netted 29 fewer goals but boast the league’s best defensive record – having conceded just 26 to the Reds’ 44.

“Jose has a way of working which has got him success,” Rodgers said. “He believes in that way and it has made him one of the most outstanding managers over the last decade. His record proves that.

“Our ideas were different, but a lot of our principles were the same – like trying to maximise what you get out of players.

“It’s clear to see in terms of the philosophies what the ideas of the teams are. But I would never disrespect any manager in terms of the way they work because this is a tough industry.

“Of course it’s more difficult to get players to win through playing attacking, creative football but it’s the idea of coaches to put in place their philosophy. If it brings them success then so be it.”

Rodgers is waiting on the fitness of Daniel Sturridge, who is battling to overcome the hamstring problem which forced him to miss the trip to Norwich.

Sturridge has scored 34 goals in 46 games since his £12million move from Chelsea.

“Dan is working hard with the medical team and we will give him every chance to see if he is fit,” Rodgers said. “I don’t think he has anything to prove against his old club. What Dan lacked there was an opportunity.

“It was just the right time for him to go and carve out a career as a main player. I think Chelsea know his talent. It was just about getting him somewhere where he would get an opportunity. He has taken that opportunity very well here.”

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