Swansea manager Michael Laudrup plays down meeting with Brendan Rodgers
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Your support makes all the difference.Swansea manager Michael Laudrup believes Wednesday's Capital One Cup clash with Liverpool will be a special occasion, but not because it marks the first meeting with former boss Brendan Rodgers.
The Northern Irishman left south Wales for Anfield in May, having guided Swansea to an impressive 11th place finish in their maiden Barclays Premier League campaign.
Despite having led Swansea to the promised land of the top flight, Rodgers can expect a hostile reception from the travelling support at Anfield, particularly after also prising midfielder Joe Allen away from the Liberty Stadium.
While the focus will be on Rodgers' facing his former club, Laudrup is unsurprisingly keen to divert attention elsewhere, not least because a win would send Swansea into previously unchartered territory.
The Swans have never advanced further than the fourth round of the League Cup, and could reach the last-eight for the first time in their 100-year history.
When asked if facing Rodgers added an extra spice to the occasion, Laudrup said: "I want to win every game we play, not only the ones where we are against ex-managers. There was one of those 10 days ago (against Roberto Martinez's Wigan) and we won that.
"But for me this is nothing different, I want to win all the games.
"I know there is something special when you see former players and coaches, but for me it is Swansea against Liverpool, not against Brendan Rodgers or Joe Allen.
"It's at Anfield and it is a big game in a competition where if we win we can claim a place in the record books of Swansea City."
Laudrup is set to make changes for the trip to Merseyside, and will be forced to replace goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who suffered a groin injury in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Manchester City.
Gerhard Tremmel will take the Dutchman's place with David Cornell coming onto the bench, and Laudrup is backing the pair to step up.
"I have confidence in Gerhard and also in David," he said. "Of course what I need to have is confirmation of how long it will be with Michel, but I have no problem using Gerhard and David.
"It is a very special position on the pitch and Gerhard has not played many games over the last year and a half and suddenly he will have to play a lot and he starts with two easy games at Anfield and against Chelsea at home!"
He added: "There will be changes, a couple of them are obviously enforced, but I don't know yet how many there will be."
PA
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