Brendan: No mistakes at White Hart Lane

Reds fans have been treated to a deluge of goals at Anfield in recent weeks, with Rodgers' side equalling a 33-year record of netting four or more strikes in four consecutive home games.

However, they have kept only one clean sheet in 12 Barclays Premier League matches - a statistic the manager feels has been brought about by minor errors.

In light of that fact and with the boss expecting a close-fought encounter in the capital at the weekend, Rodgers has called for focus ahead of the crunch tie with Andre Villas Boas' side.

"We've made mistakes - we own up to that," Rodgers told reporters gathered at Melwood. "We've made mistakes defensively and that has cost us goals and some of them have been cheap goals.

"But it's been swings and roundabouts, really. We started the season with three 1-0 wins and people spoke about our lack of goals. And I think that's one thing you can't level at this team. But now they are scoring goals, it's the clean sheets. So as long as we're winning games, I'm happy.

"Of course, we always want to be perfect, score many goals and keep clean sheets. And certainly in these types of games [against Tottenham], when it's going to be tight and you're not going to run away and score lots of goals, you then have to make sure you don't make mistakes.

"And that's something that we're focused on. It was something that cost us a wee bit last year in terms of these big games, when we were in front and then we made a mistake.

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"But this is a group of players and a team that is not intentionally making mistakes. Sometimes it happens in the games."

The clash against Tottenham will kick-start a busy festive period for the Reds, which includes difficult trips to Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City.

And while the manager intends to re-assess the team's progress after the next five games, he insists the message to his players is to concentrate on one match at a time.

"The focus is only Tottenham," said Rodgers. "We finished our last block of games having reached the targets that we set. Of course, we'd always want to be better, but 10 points out of 15 in the last five games has kept us on track for where we want to go.

"The next block of five games is important for us. But the next game is the most important and that's against Tottenham. It'll be a tough game, but we'll really relish going there.

"The last two performances [against Norwich City and West Ham United] and the goals we have scored has been outstanding.

"So we know we can go anywhere and get goals, we just need to make sure that we don't make mistakes defensively and if we can do that, we'll always score goals.

"I think a win would give you that greater bit of belief. In the games against our rivals so far, we've won one [against Manchester United], lost one [against Arsenal] and we drew against Everton."

The Reds will have to cope without the influence of skipper Steven Gerrard after Rodgers yesterday confirmed the 33-year-old will face at least four weeks out of action with a hamstring problem.

With Daniel Sturridge sidelined until mid-January due to an ankle sprain and Jose Enrique recovering from surgery to resolve an issue with his right knee, Rodgers knows players will have to make the step up.

However, Luis Suarez is in scintillating form, and the manager feels his side will therefore have a focal point as they go about taking maximum points from the forthcoming fixtures.

"Luis is in great form at the moment in his energy, his quality and his robustness," said Rodgers. "It's where he comes into his own. He's remarkable. He's up for every game, so there's no worry there.

"I think we've got enough talent in the squad. We'll restructure the team a little bit. But we know we'll get plenty of work and intensity from the team and we have enough quality.

"We've lost important players for a period of time [already this season]. Jose Enrique is a player now who has been out for a while, but young Jon Flanagan has come in and been excellent. So with Daniel out, and Steven out, that means the onus is on one or two others in the team.

"Luis and Daniel have featured highly in the goals that we have scored this season - and, as I've always said, that's their job to score goals and create. But of course, you want other players to step up."

Suarez helped himself to a six-goal haul in Sturridge's absence last week during the comprehensive home victories over Norwich and West Ham.

The Reds notched nine goals in front of the Kop in the space of four days to extend their impressive record in L4 - which has now seen them win 12 out of 17 league matches this calendar year.

"We love playing at Anfield. It's our home and we've got our own supporters behind us," said Rodgers. "You see the confidence which runs through the team now at Anfield and that's great. It was a massive step forward for us.

"If you go away from home you are going to be up against it but our approach is the same - we go out into every game to try and play well, work the ball and work very hard when we haven't got the ball.

"So the mentality is the same. But you are asked different questions away from home. For us, we just need to cut out the mistakes we make. There haven't been teams who have opened us up - we've conceded from disappointing goals."

Sunday's opponents Spurs are sixth in the Premier League table; however, Villas Boas' outfit are just three points behind second-placed Liverpool.

Arsenal have opened up a five-point gap at the top, but a mere four points separates Rodgers' side and Newcastle United, who currently occupy seventh position.

With such congestion at the top of the table, the manager was pressed for his thoughts on who should be considered as in contention for a title push.

He replied: "Everyone talks about the top four places and there's probably about six or seven teams involved in that race.

"I think everyone at this moment in time will look at Manchester City as the ones who have the outstanding squad.

"I'm sure Tottenham themselves will look at what they have spent and the number of players they have brought in and see themselves with a chance. Chelsea, historically, have been up there and Arsenal have made an excellent start.

"So I think it's open, if I'm being honest. I think teams will look to get through this Christmas period and see where they are at in January. For us, I just really want to get us to the last 10 games of the season - and that's where you can really look and see where you're going to finish.

"For us, it's being able to challenge at that period, that's something that we are continually focused on."