Brendan Rodgers has maintained that he will be treating Reading’s FA Cup tie against Liverpool seriously and will field a strong side.

Royals will play the seven times winners and Premier League giants in third round at Madejski Stadium on the first weekend of January.

Last season, then manager Steve Coppell used both cup’s to give a chance to his fringe players and Reading were knocked out in the third round by Cardiff City.

But Rodgers told the Reading Post he has no plans in resting his star players for the game against the five-time European champions.

He said: “It’s a great chance for the players to put themselves against top Premier League players and it’s also going to be great for the supporters to watch.

“I watched the draw at home and there’s always a bit of excitement watching it all and it’s a fantastic tie for us.

“Everyone wants to play against the best players, but I’m very much about trying to keep the momentum in the team.

“I said I will play another team in the Carling Cup, but in the FA Cup there won’t be too many changes to the first-team.

“But for now we’re concentrating on the league and this weekend’s game against Sheffield Wednesday.”

Rafa Benitez’s side came to Madejski Stadium in 2007 when Royals famously won 3-1 thanks to goals from Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle and James Harper – all of whom are no longer at the club.

Captain and England midfielder Steven Gerrard got the consolation for Benitez’s men.

Ivar Ingimarsson, Brynjar Gunnarsson and Kalifa Cisse were the only current Reading players to take part in the top-flight fixture, with Adam Federici and Shane Long both on the bench.

The two sides have met just five times in all competitions with Royals losing the other four.

Holders Chelsea and Rodgers’ old employers will face another of his old team’s Watford at Stamford Bridge. Fulham will play Swindon Town at Craven Cottage.

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