Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed the extent of the rebuilding work that he feels is necessary at Liverpool and has warned fans not to expect too much too quickly.
Liverpool have failed to finish in the top five of the Barclays premier league every year since finishing second in 2008-09, and last season they finished behind bitter rivals
Everton for the first time since 2004-05. Given Everton’s start to this campaign that fact must also be weighing heavily on Rodgers’ mind but, for the time being at least he would be happy to see an improvement from his side.
“The reality is we’re a long way off in the league,” said Rodgers. “We finished eighth last year. If we can improve on that, it’ll be fantastic for us.”
Having seen his side accrue just 12 points in their first 11 games, the odds betting is against his side and Rodgers knows that Liverpool will have to show a big upturn in form to get back up towards the promised land of the Champions league.
From what he has seen, he doesn’t believe that they have the players to be challenging at the top of the table just yet.
“That’s the reality of where Liverpool are I’m afraid. But our young players will get better and better” Rodgers said. “If you’re not going to have a massive investment to make it happen quickly, you have to develop it. That’s where we’re at” he added.
Liverpool are a club synonymous with success and whilst Rodgers may have the public backing of the owners and the fans for now, they will surely turn on him if they don’t start to climb the table soon. An eighth place finish (not to mention an FA cup final appearance and a league cup win) was not enough to keep Kenny Dalglish in a job and, given his status at the club, it will surely not be enough for Rodgers either.
