Liverpool No2 Steve Clarke isn't surprised seeing Brendan Rodgers succeed at Swansea City.

The Liverpool first-team coach is close friends with the Swans gaffer having struck up a friendship during their days working at youth-team level.

Clarke then recommended Rodgers to former club Chelsea when he was promoted to the role of Jose Mourinho's assistant at Stamford Bridge in 2004.

The Scot explained to Liverpoolfc.tv: "I know Brendan well. We came across each other what seems like a really long time ago when I was managing the youth team at Chelsea and Brendan was youth-team manager at Reading. We had some good matches and got to know each other through that.

"When Mourinho went to Chelsea, I moved up to work with Jose and recommended that Brendan could be one of the candidates to come in and take the job with the youth team.

"Fortunately for everybody, Brendan got the job and did a great job for Chelsea."

He added: "We stay in contact regularly. I probably speak to Brendan a couple of times a month - obviously not this week because we've got different agendas at the weekend. I haven't seen him for a while, so I'm looking forward to seeing him after the game.

"He's done a terrific job at Swansea. I hope they have a big reversal this weekend, but after that I wish them all the best."