Novikovas enjoyed Reds test

There was much to be admired about the Jambos' battling performance against a side who, despite being without Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson and Andy Carroll, were packed with multi-million pound stars.

Andy Webster's unfortunate own goal after the break gave Brendan Rodgers' side the advantage going into next week's play-off second-leg at Anfield.

However, it was way that Hearts went about their task which gave succour to the 21-year-old Lithuania international and he insists that if the Gorgie men replicate it on a regular basis they can win the race to be the best of the rest behind Celtic, overwhelmingly favourites to retain their title.

Ahead of the trip to Aberdeen in the SPL on Sunday, Novikovas said: "I think against teams like Liverpool, mentally, your brain is working much better, it is so concentrated on all things, even the small things.

"When you are playing in the SPL, you think like 'this is not Liverpool, it is easier'.

"You need to concentrate on all games and if we do we have the chance to finish second.

"We haven't lost yet, we were unlucky against Inverness (in our last game) so I think we are able to get second."

Despite their Europa League campaign set to end next week on Merseyside Novikovas is keen to experience playing at Anfield while hoping for a result akin to a "lottery win".

He said: "I have never played in that stadium (Anfield) so it is going to be a great experience again.

"We can score one goal and sit in defence and wait until penalties or something - the lottery - I don't know!

"Of course it is going to be hard. It doesn't matter which players were missing, Gerrard or Suarez, the rest of the players are good as well but so were we, we deserved at least 0-0.

"It was disappointing, we gave it our all but we are happy with our performance."