Expecting a tough test, Liverpool will not be taking the Indonesia XI lightly when they meet in a friendly match at the Bung Karno stadium on Saturday, despite the hosts'€™ 7-0 humiliation by Arsenal a few days ago.

'€œWe'€™re really looking forward to playing in the stadium and bringing our team to the great supporters here,'€ Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers said in fully-packed press conference at Hotel Mulia on Thursday.

'€œThe stadium is fine. The pitch is a little bit dry, which we can understand because of the weather here,'€ he said.

Liverpool is the second major English Premier League club to arrive in Jakarta recently, with Chelsea arriving next week.

'€œThere are a number of players who will be a threat to us. I know there are a number of players coming back who have been with the under-23 squad, which will make them stronger. We'€™ll be aware of that. We know the game will be a good test for us. The Indonesian XI have a number of good players and we'€™ll have to contain them,'€ he said.

'€œIf you look at the game against Arsenal, tactically the team were very good. They played the game very well and it was very close until the 70th minute '€“ it was 2-0.'€

Indonesian manager Jacksen F Tiago promised an improved performance by his players on last week, saying they had learned a lot from the Arsenal game.

'€œWe gathered yesterday and watched how we conceded the goals through a video. We lack coordination, especially in passing and ball possession,'€ said the former coach of Jayapura-based club Persipura.

He was accompanied by Ferdinand Sinaga, who has just been called up for the Liverpool game.

The 45-year-old Brazilian, who has been appointed as Indonesian manager only recently, expressed his concern, especially with goalkeeper Kurnia Mega, who also had to pick the ball out his net in the previous game against Dutch national team.

'€œ[Conceding] ten goals in two matches must be disappointing for him. I'€™ve talked to him and hope I'€™ve improved his psychological approach [to the game],'€ he said.

Tiago said his team would focus on defense against Liverpool.

'€œWe have to build a strong defense then launch attacks.'€

He expected a tougher time against Liverpool but refused to be overawed by the prospect of crashing to another big loss.

'€œWhen an offer [to coach] was presented to me, I talked with Persipura. We assessed the positives and negatives. No one knows my capacity except me. We plan and work.
If the results go against us, I take it as a learning process. That'€™s how life goes,'€ he said.

Jakarta is Liverpool'€™s first stop on its pre-season tour, which includes friendly matches in Melbourne and Bangkok.

The team has arrived with its newly recruited Kolo Toure, Simon Mignolet, Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto.

Rogers believed his side could challenge for a Champions League place this season.

'€œIt'€™s a competition we'€™re fighting to reach. The great name of Liverpool as a club and the history of the club dictate that we should be in that competition. There'€™s no other measure for us,'€ he said.

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