RODGERS HAPPY TO FEEL AT HOME AFTER VICTORY
Brendan Rodgers knows that it will not always go as smoothly as this; a warm reception under blue skies before his first game in charge at Anfield, one new signing scoring on his home debut and another prime target watching from the stands as he waits to complete a £15million move to Merseyside.But as introductions go this will do nicely, even though the Belarusians of FC Gomel refused to roll over after Liverpool's supporters rolled out the welcome mat for him.
Two wins out of two mean Rodgers' new club advance comfortably into Friday's draw for the Europa League play-off round, and the new manager is off to a solid start.
History pervades every corner of Anfield but the Northern Irishman knows his job is to shape the future.
He will continue the rebuilding by signing Joe Allen from his old club Swansea. The midfielder has made it clear to his current employers that he wants to leave and is expected to undergo a medical on Friday after watching from the directors' box.
'It's obviously imminent,' said Rodgers. 'If he's up here it shows there is good communication with Swansea. We hope to conclude it in the next 24 hours.' Craig Bellamy is close to completing his move to Cardiff, but Rodgers was not afraid to name Daniel Agger in the starting line-up last night despite interest from Manchester City.
His assertion that Luiz Suarez would be up to speed after an Olympic campaign with Uruguay was totally vindicated as the striker played superbly, helping to set up the first two goals.
Suarez's trickery on the byline after 19 minutes left one Gomel defender on his backside, and when his attempted pullback was intercepted by Nikolai Kashevski the ball looped up into the air for Borini to celebrate his first Anfield appearance since a £10m move from Roma by rifling a right-foot shot inside Vladimir Bushma's near post.
Steven Gerrard put the result doubt three minutes before half-time when he swept the ball into an empty net after more good work by Suarez, and Glen Johnson added a third in the 72nd minute with a fabulous left-foot shot from 25-yards.
Meanwhile, Liverpool owner John Henry has not ruled out the possibility of renaming the club's famous Anfield stadium to increase revenue.
Responding to fans' questions online, Henry admitted: 'A naming rights deal at Anfield could occur, I suppose, if the partner were right. We haven't pursued it.'
Liverpool's Fabio Borini opens the scoring
Just Fab: Borini celebrates his early strike
Top man: Liverpool's Steven Gerrard celebrates his 150th goal for club
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