Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised ex-Saints skipper Adam Lallana for his performance in last night’s 1-0 Champions League loss at Real Madrid.

The boss believes his squad players more than validated his controversial team selection for the Champions League defeat against Real Madrid.

Rodgers was so pleased by some of the individual performances in the 1-0 defeat in the Bernabeu - far from the rout some were predicting - he warned those who had been rested they were not guaranteed of a return against Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday.

Rodgers was berated from all sides for omitting the likes of Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson in the eight changes he made but his second-string acquitted themselves well.

They even managed to end Cristiano Ronaldo's hot goalscoring streak which was brought to a halt at 12, although part of that was down to an uncharacteristic lack of sharpness in the penalty area.

They could not prevent striker Karim Benzema from converting Marcelo's far-post cross midway through the first half, however, but Rodgers was bullish afterwards.

“I have to put my trust in the squad because we brought a lot of players in during the summer," he said.

“I thought the players were outstanding; Kolo Toure and Lucas Leiva was excellent, Adam Lallana got better as the game went on and Fabio Borini showed his intensity at the top of the field.

“It gave me great food for thought and all those who weren't playing last night doesn't necessarily mean they will play against Chelsea.”

Speculation about the strength - or lack of - in the run up to game had seen Rodgers come under fire and when the team was announced last night others waded in with former England striker Gary Lineker saying it was "not befitting of a club of Liverpool's stature".

Asked for a response to Lineker's criticism Rodgers said: "Gary is a figure who I respect and was a top player in his day but he's never been a manager so he has never truly understands what it is like in terms of picking players.

"I respect his opinion but I think the words were played out by my team.

"The performance was far from throwing the white towel in.”

Despite the below strength side Rodgers fielded, there was still no place – even on the bench – for Saints legend Rickie Lambert who is still searching for his first senior goal for his boyhood heroes.

Another ex-Saint, centre half Dejan Lovren, was among those rested.