BRENDAN RODGERS has tasted the Anfield atmosphere before but knows this evening will be altogether different.

The Ulsterman felt the appreciation of an educated crowd when his Swansea City side finished with a point against Liverpool last season.

He has even walked out on the pitch as Reds manager, yet that day there was not a soul in the stands.

But tonight, against FC Gomel in the Europa League, a full house will greet the new manager vociferously and offer him something he has never experienced.

In the home dugout, Rodgers hopes to guide his side safely into the final qualifying round after last week’s first leg win.

The record books will show the 39-year-old’s reign began at the Central Stadion in Belarus, one balmy August evening, but Rodgers takes his ceremonial bow tonight.

Rodgers walks on a zephyr of pride but will not allow his personal satisfaction at being Liverpool manager to alter his priorities or knock his focus.

“I have been given an incredible welcome but I need to win games,” he said.

“It is going to be an incredible privilege for me but my focus is on winning the game. I want to turn Anfield into a cauldron.

“My arrival follows a period where the greatest player in the history of this club led and stabilised Liverpool in a difficult moment.

“Kenny Dalglish gave the best years of his footballing and managerial life to Liverpool FC and will never be forgotten.

“My aim is to remember the greats of this club such as Kenny and those before him, to produce a team that not only wins but does so in a style which for generations has been known as ‘the Liverpool Way’.

“The reality is that the club has slipped from the generations of success. Yet the challenge to restore the good times was a big part of my decision to come to Liverpool.”

Luis Suarez is certain to play a prominent role in his plans.

Liverpool, understandably, looked weary in Gomel seven days ago and looked exactly what they are – a team deep into pre-season.

But Suarez, fresh from having played in the Olympic Games with Uruguay and buoyed by signing a new long-term deal with the club this week, should offer inspiration for tired legs.

“I was one of the managers who thought the Olympics would be beneficial for players,” said Rodgers.

“Most were coming back around the same time, but with the Olympics basically what you had was he’d be doing his work there rather than with us. That was an opportunity for those players involved to come back maybe even at a better level because they’d be playing more competitive games.

“He had a bit of a break at the end of the season and he’s been playing with Uruguay in some friendlies and at the Olympics, he’s come back and looked really good in the last couple of days. I have no worries about the likes of Luis. He was in his pre-season, it just wasn’t with us. We know he’s class, he looks fit, looks strong and will be ready.”

Joe Cole, taken off after just 23 minutes last week with a hamstring problem, will not feature. Rodgers expects him to be back in training tomorrow.

Daniel Agger, Pepe Reina and Andy Carroll will be in the squad but tonight is not about individuals, Rodgers says.

“It’s the team for me,” he added. “The start of this team is the team. I will have quality players all the way through it. The goalkeeper is one of the leading ones in the world, the back four are top international players, really good players and a young midfield which can play.

“Then I look at the potential of the front four in terms of Borini, Suarez, Gerrard and Downing and you’ve got pace, power, creativity and hunger, so I’m excited about going forward. It will just take time for the chemistry to take place. That’s why we do our work on the field, so in time we can execute those patterns.”

So what have Rodgers’ team got to be wary of this evening?

“Counter attacking,” the manager replied. “At this stage they are fitter than us, they’ve played 15 games so that match fitness is better. We tired towards the end but had that resilience to keep a clean sheet which you cannot underestimate. They make it difficult to play through them, sit deep and then spring forward so it’s about making sure we have that tactical discipline.”