The Reds boss, who celebrated a year in charge at Anfield in June, is upbeat about his side’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League in 2013-14

Brendan Rodgers is confident Liverpool can fight for a top four spot in the Premier League this season.

The 40-year-old has been busy early on in the transfer window, signing Kolo Toure, Simon Mignolet, Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, while Steven Gerrard has extended his contract.

The Reds boss is happy with what he has seen so far during pre-season and is confident of a successful upcoming season for the Merseyside club.

“The Champions League is a competition we’re fighting to get in,” Rodgers told reporters at a press conference in Jakarta.

“The great name of Liverpool as a club and the history of the club dictate that we should be in that competition. There’s no other measure for us.

“The challenge is very, very difficult because of the competitors now in England. We have to continue to fight – and I believe we can put up a great fight this year.

“It was very difficult for us last season with a new infrastructure and a new way of working and playing, but I believe this season we can put up a great fight. Let’s hope we can get back to where the club belongs.”

Liverpool finished seventh in the Premier League last season, but Rodgers admits stability and building a foundation was the key for the club to push on this term.

He added: “I’ve looked at how we’ve started our pre-season and that start base and foundation is already in place.

“Last year at the club, it was really about putting together the infrastructure of the club again, looking to rebuild and put lots of facets in place that will really help us going forward. From what I have seen this summer so far, even in pre-season, I really believe there is a real stability there.

“In England, it has shown over the years that the teams that have went on and done well have had that stability. I’m very sure we can really challenge this year and the stability is important for that.”

“We really want to have a greater fight for the Champions League spots right from the very first whistle.

“That’s our prime aim and we would like to do well in the cup competitions. Our squad was a little bit thin last year, but this year we’re going into those [cup competitions] as well as the league and look to make the steps we want to make.

“The four new players have settled in really well and all looked very, very good in their first two weeks of training. I’m really happy with them.”