Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that rejection as a young footballer gave him the motivation to nurture talent such as Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe.

Rodgers was on the books as a Reading youngster, but injury meant he never played for the senior side and was forced to retire at the age of 20.

The Northern Irishman believes that he was able to turn his own negative experiences into positives as a manager, by giving youth-team players a chance to flourish.

He told Barclays: "There comes a time when you have to let them go (and play), because sometimes you never know until they are in the arena, they just want that opportunity.

"I realised that I could help young players and prepare them, and if I told them they were going to play they would play. Then they would be given the opportunity."

Rodgers and his Liverpool side head to Arsenal tomorrow afternoon, for the Premier League's lunchtime kickoff.