• Premier League

Liverpool back as a force, says Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers feels the atmosphere at Anfield has helped his side this season © PA Photos

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes everyone is witnessing the return of a great club as they close in on a first league title since 1990.

Rodgers' side require seven points from their remaining three games to be crowned league champions. Table-toppers Liverpool face second-placed Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday with the opportunity to move eight points clear of their title rivals.

With Liverpool on course to end their 24-year run without league success, Rodgers insists they are becoming a dominant force once again as they were when they secured 10 league triumphs and four European Cups during the 1970s and '80s.

"Throughout the world, I think everyone is seeing that Liverpool is a giant that has been woken up," he told the Liverpool Echo. "In these last few months we have felt the sheer scale of this club."

Liverpool are set to receive tremendous backing from their fans at Anfield against Chelsea, and there is one game which springs to Rodgers' mind when it comes to the two sides meeting on Merseyside.

"When Liverpool play Chelsea, the Champions League semi-final at Anfield in 2005 is always a topic of conversation," he said.

"I was at the game that night and the atmosphere was remarkable. At the time the phrase they talked about was 'the power of Anfield'. That's something which is alive and kicking at this moment in time."

Liverpool have won their last 11 games, with Chelsea the last side to beat them back in December at Stamford Bridge.

Rodgers feels the Anfield factor has helped his side this season, with Liverpool beating Manchester City 3-2 in a dramatic encounter the last time they played on home soil.

"Anyone looking at Anfield and looking at this team, and the collaboration between both the players and the supporters, they will see that it's a real force they have to deal with," he said.

"We are hoping we can continue to perform at a level which makes the supporters proud and that we continue to win games."

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