Brendan Rodgers has defended his decision to field a much-changed Liverpool team in the Champions League and revealed that the club's owners have backed his selection policy.

The Northern Irishman was initially criticised for picking what was perceived to be a weakened team for the Reds' 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid.

However, Rodgers believes that he made the right decision on Tuesday night and is adamant that the selection will have a positive effect on his squad in the long term.

He told The Guardian: "The only thing I showed the other night was the trust I have in the team and in this group of players. I never feared that if I play this team we are going to end up losing seven- or eight-nil and what would be the consequence of that?

"I would never do that, I would never pick a team that I believe couldn't get a result from a game. I never went into a game in my life and felt that we are not going to get a result.

"The thinking and the strategy that goes behind it is deep in terms of analysing the opponent. You have to be bold enough to make the decisions as a manager and that is why you are paid the money you are. If you make more wrong ones than right ones you will be out of work."

Liverpool go into Saturday's game with Chelsea three points off the top four.