He garnished his team sheet with Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard and Simon Mignolet despite the risk given Manchester United will be here in five days, but Rodgers well recalls how he was let down in the absence of his tried and trusted last season.
When Raheem Sterling and Sturridge put Liverpool two up, no one could envisage what would follow.
The charge began after four minutes courtesy of Sterling. The teenager demonstrated all the effervescence that earned him an England call-up last season, dropping the shoulder 30 yards from goal, dancing past two defenders and striking ferociously beyond Bartosz Bialkowski.
The League One side seemed to be facing a damage limitation exercise, before Sturridge added the second on 29 minutes. But Notts County mounted a stirring fight , and their increasing threat was rewarded when Yoan Arquin's header halved the deficit on 63 minutes.
The Anfield atmosphere changed completely. Notts County substitute Coombes then equalised on 83 minutes firing in after another lapse on the Liverpool right by Andre Wisdom.
Touré had to be carried off in extra time. Aly Cissokho's debut had ended on 10 minutes and Joe Allen limped off early in the second half. But Sturridge struck his second before Henderson finally settled nerves on 110 minutes. A win for Liverpool, but not much to celebrate at full-time.
Match details
Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Toure, Wisdom, Cissokho (Agger 10); Gerrard Allen (Henderson 66) , Alberto (Coutinho 72); Ibe, Sterling, Sturridge
Subs not used: Jones, Aspas, Borini, Lucas
Notts County: Bialkowski; Dumbuya, Liddle, Smith, McGregror, Bell (Coombes 82), Arquin, Labadie, Campbell-Ryce (Thompson 70), Fotheringham (Boucaud 77), Stevens
Booked: Campbell-Ryce
Subs not used: Spiess, Tempest, Murray, Nangle
Referee: Stuart Atwell
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