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Rodgers: Consistency the key for Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the gap between Liverpool and the Champions League qualifiers © PA Photos

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Brendan Rodgers has demanded consistency from his Liverpool players if they are to challenge for the Premier League title in coming years.

Rodgers' side will end the campaign in seventh place, regardless of the result in their final Premier League game against relegated QPR, and without a trophy.

But the Northern Irishman believes he knows what needs to be done to push on and qualify for the Champions League - a tournament Liverpool haven't competed in since 2009.

"There is a process of getting into the top four and becoming champions and that is consistency," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.

"We want to make significant improvements next year in the points total because the reality is we are 30 points behind the leaders and 11 points behind the top four.

"I've seen enough and if we improve our mentality in the summer - by signing players who have that consistent winning mentality - we can then improve again, like we have done in the second half of the season.

"That's the job of the recruitment team and the club to identify those types of players. They might not always be the best players but what we need in the second year of this project is to find a great level of consistency."

Liverpool made their worst start to a league season since 1903, failing to win any of their opening five fixtures under Rodgers.

"This year has provided a great learning curve for me and I look back and see that it was learning that I needed," the 40-year-old added.

"I knew the expectancy of the club but going into next season, I am a much better prepared manager for that. I've loved every minute of being here and the small steps of where we want to go. But now I want to make bigger steps."

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