Rodgers: Next season LFC will have belief from day one

Brendan Rodgers insisted that Liverpool have dealt with the disappointment of the title chase, as he reflected on new ambitions.

12 months ago a sorry looking Liverpool limped out of the season in 7th place.  The ambition, and it was ambitious, was to transform the club into top four contenders.

After a sensational season - the reds did much better than that, and took the title down to the last day of the season.

Speaking after last night's 4-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers, Rodgers insisted that the objective going forward is clear.

"We will enter into next season with the belief that we can win the title."

Speaking to the official website he said:

"The disappointment didn't last too long.

"I'd said to the players on the Sunday before the game that, whatever, we would celebrate the incredible journey that we have been on this season.

"The restoration when I came in two years ago was to get Liverpool back to become one of the leading clubs in Europe and over the last two years, the identity of the team and the style of football has made the British league and the European leagues sit up and take notice.

"This season we've had some incredible performances and we have recovered the soul of the club again for the supporters. They feel pride and enthusiasm in the club and they have a spring in their step because we are heading back in the direction of where Liverpool Football Club should be, and that's the best."

Although Liverpool dropped points in two of their final three games - it was a remarkable run for Liverpool to even get themselves into a title challenge.

"The psychological impact (of the title race) is only a positive one.

"In our last 14 games, we won 12 and claimed 37 points out of 42 - that's a remarkable statistic for a very young team. The last game was a difficult game because the feeling you have in that situation is that Manchester City would win their game.

"We've gone remarkably close this year. We now expect next year and will have the belief to go one better. It won't be any harder because it's a tremendously difficult league and all the teams will strengthen, but so will we and we'll get better."

Many of Liverpool's players will now turn their focus to the World Cup although members of the reds hierachy are hoping to agree, at least in principle, two or three deals before the summer football festival gets under way in Brazil.

Do you think Liverpool will go one better next season?