Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits he's a big fan of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho gave Rodgers a chance at Chelsea when he appointed him to his backroom staff in 2004 and tomorrow, when Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge, will be the first time that pupil has faced master.

Mention of mind games brought a smile from the 40-year-old.

"He had what I called the X-factor, he had so many elements to him," Rodgers recalled.

"But one of the things that always stuck with me was the story he told me about respect and this is something that never gets mentioned much with his work. It is how you respect players as human beings first and foremost, only then will they respect you and listen to you as a coach. That was a brilliant bit of advice for me early in my career.

"He had worked at Barcelona with powerful figures. It was coming first-hand in terms of the respect.

"We are very alike, but different. I've always had confidence; worked hard and studied to arrive where I have. It's similar to Jose and how we've seen football as a profession, a way of life. It was not just turn up in the morning, watch a bit of training and then go play golf.

"Do the mind games affect me? Christ no. He is a good man."