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Brendan Rodgers admits that missing out on the Champions League will make it more difficult to attract top class talent to Anfield this summer.

The Reds’ 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday has left them seven points adrift of fourth placed Manchester City.

Rodgers believes a top-four finish is now probably beyond Liverpool and that will have an impact on the business they do when the transfer window opens.

“I think most players want to be in the Champions League,” Rodgers said.

“I think it’s also that Liverpool is a great club. I said that before I came into it, it’s been even more rubber stamped now that I’ve been here for two and a half years.

“It’s a phenomenal club that players want to play for. But, of course, players want to play at the top level of the game and if you’re not in the Champions League it makes it difficult for you. We know that.

“But we just have to continue to fight in order to be a stable club in there - and we’ll continue to do that.”

Real battle may lie in quest for a Europa League place....

Liverpool must now win their remaining seven league games and hope that one of Manchester City, Arsenal or Manchester United falter over the run-in.

Rodgers fears the Reds, who crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage earlier this season, are now in a battle with Tottenham and Southampton for fifth place.

“I think we needed to take something from Arsenal, and if we’d done that then our chances would have been greater,” he said.

“I wouldn’t expect the others to slip up, particularly Arsenal or Manchester United. I don’t expect them to do that.

“Add to that, the sort of growing number we’ve got unavailable I think it will make it very, very difficult with only seven games to go.

“We showed in our season that we can still fight and be up there challenging. We’ve got young players who are growing, getting more experience and then hopefully there will be a period where we qualify again.

“For me, it’s about restoring Liverpool to the challenge. I think over the course of the last three months we’ve been able to challenge again.

“We want to be in the Champions League, that’s important and it’s key for us. But it’s highly unlikely this year.”

“We knew it would be tough this year”

Falling out of Europe’s elite would represent a painful step backwards for the club in the wake of last season’s thrilling title challenge.

The Reds gave themselves a mountain to climb by making such a poor start to the season following the sale of Luis Suarez and the arrival of eight new signings.

“It’s more frustrating when it comes to progressing as a team,” Rodgers said.

“We always felt this year was going to be difficult, that was the reality of it.

“Our run last year nearly brought us the title. We lost a world class player and lots of other developments that happened within the club. This year was always going to be difficult for us.

“But it’s frustrating that we got ourselves in a position over the last three months, very close, to then come up short in the past two games.

“But I look at Arsenal and their bench, the players, the world class players on the field with big talent and it shows the continual work we have to do.”

FA Cup is a priority now for Reds boss

Rodgers admits the FA Cup has now taken on added importance as the Reds prepare for Wednesday night’s quarter-final replay with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

“Obviously the FA Cup is a priority for us,” he added.

“We don’t give up. We will fight right to the end. There’s been lots of positives - looking at players’ development, seeing players grow, it’s been good.

“As a manager, not that long in the game, it’s been great for me up to this point, learning about the dynamics of everything.

“We have an obligation to represent the supporters in the last seven games, and in the FA Cup to finish as well as we can.”

Emre Can’s late red card at the Emirates means that the young German will be suspended for the clash with Blackburn, along with Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel.

Rodgers is waiting on the fitness of Mario Balotelli, who ruled himself out of the game in the capital due to a sore knee.

“Mario had a slight knock on Friday and felt he had to come out of training. He felt it was too sore to travel,” he said.

“The medical team looked at it but it was the decision of Mario.”