Watch out, Manchester City. Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool have you in their sights.
Rodgers said Tuesday that Liverpool is aiming to finish as high as second place in the Premier League this season, according to the Press Association.
The Reds are the league’s hottest team and already have established themselves as contenders for both a top-four finish and qualification to next season’s UEFA Champions League. But Rodgers wants more than top four from his current crop of Reds.
“We’ve put ourselves in a great position,” Rodgers said at his press conference following Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Swansea City. “We want to finish as high as we can, and everyone talks about fourth, but it’s the same every year. We’ll do the best we can, and Manchester City’s result at the weekend gives us an opportunity to finish second. We’ve got to use the mentality, run and confidence we’ve got, take that into every game and see where it takes us.”
Liverpool currently sits fifth in the Premier League standings with 54 points after 29 games. Liverpool trails fourth-placed Manchester United by two points, third-placed Arsenal by three points and second-placed Manchester City by four points with nine games remaining in the season.
Chelsea leads the league with 64 points after 28 games. Jose Mourinho’s team has one game in hand on league’s other high flyers and are widely expected to lift the trophy in May.
Liverpool finished second last season and matching that outcome this season would represent a historic triumph. Liverpool was in 10th place at Christmas, having claimed just 22 points from its first 17 games. No team has finished higher than sixth with that points total at that stage of a Premier League season.
Some laughed in December when Rodgers said Liverpool would contend for a top-four finish. Others had the same reaction a month later when he said Liverpool would contend for the title next season.
Liverpool’s stunning form and 13-game unbeaten run should at least make skeptics think before they laugh at Rodgers’ latest target shift.
Thumbnail photo via LiverpoolFC.com
