Rodgers backs Liverpool to improve

Brendan Rodgers has backed his new look Liverpool team to improve as the season progresses, reports ITV Sport.

The Reds have struggled to replicate the form they produced last season, losing two of their opening four Premier League matches, and picking up a fortunate 2-1 win over Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday.

However, the boss is confident it will be a matter of time before the new additions settle, and the Reds start to reproduce some of their best form.

In the meantime, the Northern Irishman hopes the clubs more established stars will step up to the plate to help the side pick up points.

“I think they naturally do that, I think that is part of the process here,” Rodgers said of the way his senior players spread the load.

“We are about the team and we will attack and defend, win and lose as a team, but with the new players coming in it does take a bit of time – but it is not an excuse.

“While you are letting the players settle you need to win matches.”

Liverpool are currently four points worse off than they were at this stage last season, and trail league leaders Chelsea by six points – however Rodgers remains unconcerned.

“There’s no magic formula, it’s just constant work on the training field,” added Rodgers, ahead of the trip to West Ham.

“I remember this time last year, we were sat in press conferences and the questions I was getting asked were about whether we were going to be able to score goals. We ended up with 101 goals.

“It’s just time and patience with players. The way we were playing in March, April and May last season we weren’t playing that way last September. It’ll be the same this year.

“I’ve always said by the time the second part of the season comes, we’ll always be stronger and better.

“The Tottenham game we were outstanding but had a poor international break because we lost a number of our players and that upset our rhythm a bit coming into the Villa game (a 1-0 defeat last weekend), where we had to change our structure.

“Against Aston Villa, we weren’t at our level in the final third. They defended well and got the result, but we moved on from that.

“We’ve got players adapting to a different country, not just a new team, so naturally that takes that little bit more time.

“I’ve been really pleased with how the players have settled in and experience tells me they’ll get better.”

Expectations are undoubtably higher after the Reds second placed finish last term, and plenty of pundits have had their say on the Reds start to the season, but again – Rodgers remains unconcerned.

“There are a lot of experts in the game now,” he said.

“I read the papers constantly and I keep getting told how to play and it is the same on the telly.

“We will always find different ways to win games, that is something I have always done all my career.”