City target talk played down by Reds

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers claimed Daniel Agger's Europa League absence was due to his fitness and not links to Manchester City.

Rodgers spoke out after the 27-year-old Denmark international defender, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium in the past week, failed to make the trip to Belarus for Thursday evening's 1-0 win against Gomel. There were immediate claims that Agger's failure to fly with the Reds squad was because he is poised to link up with Roberto Mancini's Premier League champions. Agger's agent, Per Steffensen, muddied the water further by insisting his omission from the squad was a mystery because, 'he is not injured in any way'. However, while Steffensen also confirmed that Agger is 'very happy' at Liverpool and rubbished reports he has handed in a transfer request, Rodgers insisted that the player was left out purely due to his fitness levels. "The plan was always for Daniel to stay behind," Rodgers said. "Everyone knows his history of injuries. He came back to pre-season training after everyone else and is still not up to speed. "He is fit, but I have to make sure he is up to speed before he plays, because everyone knows his history with injuries." Agger is still contracted to Liverpool for another two years, but indicated that he would discuss a new deal at Anfield which means Mancini will probably have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.