Brendan Rodgers is preparing for Liverpool's toughest test of pre-season so far as they gear up to take on HJK Helsinki in Finland.

The Reds have travelled to Scandinavia for their penultimate pre-season game, after completing their tour of the Far East and Australia last month.

But though the tour proved beneficial, he believes Saturday's clash with the reigning Finnish champions - currently mid-way through their domestic season - will prove a step up in class.

Rodgers hails Finnish opponents

Rodgers insisted Helsinki are the "most successful team" in Finland, having won 27 titles, including triumphs for the last six consecutive years.

He said that the Reds have done their homework and "know how they [HJK] work" - telling reporters that they set up in a 4-2-3-1 and are "a gifted group of players."

Rodgers added that he expects a tough test because Helsinki play good football and are "very organised" and "good defensively." He believes they are the perfect side to test the Premier League side "to the maximum."

The hosts find themselves in the middle of Champions League qualification, having drawn their first-leg 0-0 in mid-week, and on his own side's ambitions for the game - the Liverpool boss says that they are "trying to get a strong game" under their belts which would allow them to take "that final preparation game into your first game of the season."

Liverpool have flown a 16-man squad over to Helsinki for the fixture, which includes star names such as captain Jordan Henderson, forwards Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho and several summer signings.

Reds' boss says Firmino and Benteke left behind due to a lack of match fitness

Two figures who won't be featuring however, are Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino - who cost the club in excess of £60 million.

The ex-Aston Villa striker only put pen-to-paper on a contract at Anfield late last month, whilst Firmino was involved in the Brazil national team's disappointing Copa America campaign - where they lost out in the quarter-finals to Paraguay on penalties - and only started training recently.

Asked why Firmino and Benteke were left behind, Rodgers insisted that the pair aren't "100 per cent" having only started training last week.

He added that the decision to keep them on Merseyside allows them to have an "extra few days of training and work" to ensure they are fit as soon as possible. 

The Northern Irishman believes regardless of the omission of the Reds' two most expensive summer signings, the 16-man squad for the friendly are a "very strong group" - insisting that everyone, bar Coutinho, has been in the side throughout pre-season.

And though the Brazilian arrived late after an extended summer break, having been a part of his country's Copa America campaign, Rodgers says he has returned in "real, real good condition" due to his natural fitness levels.

With their season opener just over a week away, Rodgers stated that those who have been left behind will be assessed over the next week to determine whether they will make their debuts at Stoke City - but if not, then they will still "play a huge part" throughout the rest of the campaign.

Asked whether he would prefer to remain cautious rather than thrusting their Liverpool bows upon them, Rodgers replied that if Benteke and Firmino aren't available for the trip to the Britannia Stadium - those selected in their places "certainly will be."

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.