Liverpool midfielder Nuri Sahin has insisted that the Europa League should be regarded as highly as the Champions League.

The Turkish playmaker, who joined the Reds this summer on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, believes that the Merseyside club will take the competition seriously, despite manager Brendan Rodgers selecting a relatively inexperienced squad for tonight's Group A clash with Young Boys.

"I know maybe in England the focus is more on the Champions League," said Sahin. "Maybe it's because the English teams are getting used to winning trophies in the Champions League.

"If you look at the semi-finals most of the teams are Spanish or English. Every player wants to play Champions League but I am not the type of person to say it is a step down. The Europa League is a very good competition also and we will try to go to the end."

Sahin could feature for the Reds in Switzerland tonight.