Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers not worried about Demba Ba in Besiktas clash

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has no added concerns over Demba Ba's threat for Besiktas despite the striker's goal that all but ended the Reds' Premier League title hopes last season.

The 29-year-old contributed to Liverpool's downfall while he was playing for Chelsea by scoring at Anfield from a loose ball lost by Steven Gerrard after he slipped.

On Thursday, Ba will return to Merseyside for the first leg of Besiktas's last-32 clash against Liverpool in the Europa League.

"It won't stimulate any bad memories for me," Rodgers told reporters in this afternoon's press conference. "Besiktas have good players - a front four with Demba Ba at the top of it.

"It's a team that is used to winning and have made it hard for English sides, but we want to do everything we can to win a trophy. It's a very prestigious competition and this is a tough game with Besiktas. We want to take a lead away [to the second leg]."

Gerrard will play no part in the match as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.