Brendan Rodgers is trying to steel Liverpool fans for the long road ahead.

Rodgers is urging patience for the longer-term plan he believes will take his Reds back into football's elite.

Liverpool have ground to make up and could well finish seventh - just one place better off than they were under Kenny Dalglish a year ago.

But Rodgers said: "There is not going to be a big instant improvement. That is the reality. I think that unless you can throw £100m at it...

"Look where Manchester City were for years and then they had a load of money thrown at them to take them so far.

"Then there was another load to take them to the top.

"Unless you can do that, you are just going to make marginal gains. But the little steps will take you there."