Rodgers: There's no pressure against City

Reds captain Steven Gerrard repeated his Old Trafford heroics by coolly placing two penalties into the back of the net at Upton Park, securing a ninth consecutive win for his team in the process.

The latest three-point haul moved Rodgers' charges back to the summit of the standings, following triumphs for Chelsea and City earlier in the weekend, with five fixtures remaining to navigate in 2013-14.

And the Northern Irishman has confidence that his players can build on both their outstanding current form and previous clashes with the Manchester club under his stewardship when the rivals lock horns in seven days' time.

"I think it was interesting to hear Vincent Kompany talk about how we're the best team they've played," Rodgers told his post-match press conference in East London.

"We should have won at the Etihad this season. We should have won there last season and drew 2-2, and we should have beaten them at home when we were 2-1 up and then made a mistake.

"With the team we put together, the mentality is to be fearless - it doesn't matter who we play. We have to respect them because they've got world-class players, but it's about ourselves and the confidence we have to play.

"The youngsters will embrace it and enjoy it - there's no pressure on them. Just go and play and whatever pressure, I will take. The most important thing is to focus on the ball and the team, and not yourself. When you do that, it'll take you a long way.

"When you're a manager, I think you have to be very clear and very strategic in terms of your vision and what it is you want to achieve. For me, it's very simple - it's mostly on the performance.

"That's nine games on the run we have won, which at this level is incredible, especially with so many young players. I concentrate on the performance; I never get too carried away when we win and I never get too disappointed when we lose.

"All I ask of my players is to do the best they can and, as we develop our exercises and ideas in training, that transmits onto the field.

"I just concentrate on Liverpool - that's my only focus and hopefully we can continue on this great run."

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Turning his focus to the crucial win over the Hammers today, the manager noted the calmness and positive attitude resonating among his squad as they approach the final straight of the season.

"We're really enjoying it," he continued. "We're embracing whatever pressure there's supposed to be. You could see it today - there were no nerves.

"We constructed from behind, looked to play, looked to pass under pressure. And if we continue with that, it will hopefully keep us getting good results. The teams up there are fantastic teams.

"They are great clubs who have titles under their belts over these last 10 years. We're fighting them and hopefully we can continue to win games.

"I think there are a number of great teams at this level. You look at Manchester City - they've got some wonderful players and they were champions the other year.

"They are strong and they have every component to do well. Chelsea, with Jose [Mourinho] and the experience he has and the team he has, they're always going to be there.

"[City] have spent money and what they have done over the last couple of years has been fantastic. They are a wonderful football club and they have invested well in top players.

"They have invested to win the league and to win the Champions League, so they will be looking to come to Anfield and get a result. For us, Anfield is a wonderful place to play.

"We're just going to enjoy it. We know it's a big game. But in all the big games this year, in the main, we've done really well. The concentration for me is on the next training session.

"We'll recover tomorrow and then we'll go again. It's just about concentrating on our football and how the payers have dealt with that has been fantastic.

"We'll just keep our focus, keep that concentration. It didn't matter that Manchester City or Chelsea won yesterday - it can't affect us.

"We have to control ourselves and our own emotions and get the job done and that was a real tough game today, but we got a great result."

A poignant undercurrent to what is arguably the Reds' greatest season in the Premier League era is the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Rodgers commented: "As a manager, I know coming into the football club there are 96 people in the sky that will always be supporting this team.

"We want to do it for the great support and the football family of Liverpool. If we're to achieve anything this year, certainly they will always be in our thoughts - the 96 in the sky and the families that go with them."