'We're building and moulding a team'

"It's an ongoing process," the manager reflected, before insisting that the Reds must aim for victories in each of their five remaining fixtures for this campaign - starting with Chelsea on Sunday.

"I've signed here for three years and I would hope that from the first day I came in until the final day I leave that we'll be in a better position," Rodgers told reporters at Melwood on Friday.

"I don't think you can put a timeline on it. Without that lightning bolt of investment, you've got to build and coach your way towards it, mould a team that can arrive there.

"That doesn't happen overnight. I hope that in my time here we can go very close, if not arrive in there.

"It's very important for us to finish the season as strongly as we can. Our objective is to go and win our remaining games.

"We've got five games to go and we go into games with the attitude to win. It's important for us to finish well and finish strong, with a good mentality. That is our focus.

"Sunday's game provides us with a big challenge - a team that is the current European champions and a team that, for the opening period of the season, were top of the league.

"We understand the task. In the big games this year, we might not have always had the results but the performances have been very good and we hope that we can continue with that."

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Rodgers' side secured a 1-1 draw when they visited Stamford Bridge earlier this season and the Northern Irishman is anticipating another enjoyable clash with the Londoners this weekend.

He added: "It's a big game and has been for a number of years now.

"I'm really looking forward to another occasion at Anfield, playing against a very good team and another opportunity for us to show that we've got the qualities to beat one of the sides that's up there challenging.

"Of course it's a big game for us and a game that we're looking forward to.

"There's absolutely no question that Rafa Benitez will get an excellent reception. The football club as a whole always respect their former players and managers.  

"He had a real good time here, he won the Champions League and the FA Cup in his six years here. I'm sure he'll get a fantastic reception."

The two sides actually do battle at youth level this evening, when the club's U18s travel south to face Chelsea in the second leg of their FA Youth Cup semi-final.

Rodgers was quizzed at his pre-match briefing about the possibility of more of the Reds' youth talents graduating into the senior set-up.

"We'll see. We've got some potential there in our youth, it's something we'll always look towards to see if they can make that step up," the 40-year-old continued.

"There might be one or two young players. We had young Jordon Ibe, at 17, on the bench against Southampton - if the circumstances had been different he may have got the opportunity.

"I'll always look to our young players because it's important that they feel they can get that opportunity to play in the first team. But they also have to be able to contribute.

"At this moment, the players I've got have given us everything; I don't think we can rinse much more out of them. If the young players deserve that opportunity, they know they'll get it."

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As the boss approaches the conclusion of his first season at the helm, those in attendance at the club's training complex were interested to hear Rodgers' assessment so far.

He said: "There's been delight, disappointment, frustration, incredible relationships that we've built already.

"It's a challenge but I'm very hopeful that we can meet the challenge going forward - which is to try to be a consistent team that can get up to those top four places.

"It has been a pleasure to be here. From the day I walked in, it has been everything and more of what I expected. It's a truly world-class football club with absolutely incredible supporters.

"It's a great city to live in, work in and be around, and there's great hope for our future."