A 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday helped the Merseysiders record their best start to a season for five years, and their manager says a change in mood has helped

Brendan Rodgers believes team spirit has improved in the Liverpool camp since the start of last season.

Rodgers’ side were without a win in their opening five games last time out, but have started much better this campaign.

After beating Stoke City 1-0 at Anfield on the first weekend of the season, they won by the same scoreline at Aston Villa on Saturday. 

Despite speculation surrounding striker Luis Suarez’s future, Rodgers has praised how well his side have begun the season.

“It’s much better than last year,” the Liverpool boss said of the mood in the dressing room.

“It took us until September to get our first win. I think since January we have been getting better and improving. It’s all credit to the players. They have been absolutely first class.

“There’s a lot of speculation and maybe a lot of distractions over the course of the summer with everything that has been written.

“I think you have to give remarkable praise to them that we’ve just stayed and focused on our task which was to make a good start.”

With Arsenal ending their pursuit of Suarez and no apparent interest from Real Madrid, the Uruguay international remains a Liverpool player.

Rodgers feels that his side’s togetherness has helped them cope with the absence of Suarez, who is serving the remainder of a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season.

“For me it’s about the team. Suarez is a world-class striker and he’s proven that in his time at Liverpool,” Rodgers continued.

“The focus will always be on the team. So whoever goes into play, they have to play for the team. It was an outstanding team performance.”

Liverpool sit in second place after their two wins and face champions Manchester United at Anfield in their next Premier League fixture.