Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has targeted another top-two finish to the Premier League season after his Reds side extended their fine run of form with a 1-0 win at former club Swansea.
The Merseysiders’ win, clinched by a freak goal from stand-in skipper Jordan Henderson, saw them cut the gap to fourth-placed Manchester Unitd to two points ahead of the rivals’ highly-anticipated showdown at Anfield on Sunday.
But Rodgers revealed he is looking higher than just a Champions League qualification spot, believing Manchester City’s shock defeat to Burnley has opened up the battle for second.
Table-topping Chelsea look dead-on for the title at seven points clear, but only four points separate City, Arsenal, United and Liverpool with nine games remaining and Rodgers says it’s all to play for.
"We've put ourselves in a great position," the Reds boss said after his side stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games.
"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, who saw skipper Steven Gerrard return as a 64th minute substitute after missing seven games with a hamstring problem, had Simon Mignolet to thank for a series of superb saves to deny the Swans, who were the better team in the first-half.
The Belgian denied the likes of Bafetimbi Gomis and Gylfi Sigurdsson to keep the hosts out but Liverpool took control after the break, even if Henderson's sixth goal of the season , his third in three games, fortunately flew over Lukasz Fabianski after Jordi Amat's clearance stuck him on the shin.
"It was a wonderful demonstration of character and resilience in the team, especially the way we played first half," Rodgers added.
"Any system you play doesn't work unless you have the ability to work.
"We just weren't anywhere near it first half but that character and resilience kept us in the game.
"We knew we were going to be better in the second half.
"We changed the structure of the team and I felt we dominated the game in the second half.
"In the second half we ran more without the ball and off it as well and shortened the game, and we are a lot better side when we do that and press the ball."
Read more at http://talksport.com/football/we-want-second-place-form-liverpool-gunning-man-city-insists-rodgers-150316139966#km25Y4pEo1cO6MCP.99
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