Alan Kennedy: 'Liverpool won't underestimate Hearts'

Former Liverpool full-back Alan Kennedy believes that the Reds will not expect to walk over Hearts in their Europa League encounter this evening.

The Merseyside outfit go up against the Scottish club for the first leg of the European playoff with a host of their first-team players rested.

"I don't think they will [underestimate them]. Hearts are a very good team," Kennedy told BBC Radio Five Live. "They have lost some good players in recent months, but they are a team to be respected. It's a battle of Britain."

Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Glen Johnson have been left out of the travelling squad to Scotland. However, 17-year-old Raheem Sterling could start for the Reds at Tynecastle tonight.