Thursday, 18th September, 2014
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits that West Ham striker Enner Valencia is an impressive young talent, but has stressed his side will focus on themselves when they head to Upton Park to play Sam Allardyce's men this weekend.
Valencia, who starred for Ecuador at the World Cup earlier this summer, announced himself at the Hammers in style on Monday night by cracking a 25-yard shot into the back of the net in West Ham's 2-2 draw with Hull, a drive that was all the more impressive given so little backlift was applied.
Rodgers admits he watched the match at the KC Stadium and was impressed with Valencia.
"He's an excellent talent. He looked a threat", Rodgers told a press conference.
"It was a great goal, the way he just shifted it out of his feet, it was fantastic and there wasn't a lot the goalkeeper could do."
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However, Rodgers will keep Liverpool's focus very much on themselves when they head to lock horns with West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
"I saw the game the other night and I thought they played very well and showed great resilience", he said.
"You travel to Upton Park and it's always very difficult; Sam's teams are set up very well.
"It will be a really, really tough game for us, but we'll go there with confidence and look to impose our game."
Liverpool lost their last Premier League match, going down to a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Anfield.
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