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Brendan Rodgers believes a flying start to the campaign is vital if Liverpool are going to challenge for a Champions League spot this term.

The Reds kick-off the Premier League season against Stoke City at Anfield today with the manager desperate to avoid a repeat of a year ago.

Last August Rodgers’ reign began with a 3-0 opening day defeat at West Brom and they struggled to recover as they were swiftly cut adrift from their rivals.

Video: Rodgers on the new season

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This time around he’s out to ensure Liverpool make home advantage count and take the opportunity to set the tone for the season ahead.

“A positive start is really important for us,” Rodgers told the ECHO.

“We never won a league game until September 29 last season. That always makes it difficult as you’re always chasing then.

“Over the first 10 games you start to get an idea of where you’re at. Out of those first 10, we need to get as many good results as we can.

“We’re at home and these are the games you have to take care of. In the second part of last season our home form improved but we still had some disappointing results against the likes of West Brom and Aston Villa, which was a shock after being in a good moment.

“Hopefully this season with the extra confidence generated from the second part of last season we can start well and turn those games into wins.

“We drew 0-0 at home to Stoke last year and we want to improve on that scoreline.

“What I’m most looking forward to seeing is the progress of the team. We’ve had a terrific pre-season and the players have all worked so hard. If they reproduce what they’ve shown in pre-season then I think we can have a really good year.”

Football flashback: Reds v Stoke

Liverpool’s spending this summer has been dwarfed by the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham but Rodgers insists the top four remains a realistic target as his side look to improve on last term’s seventh placed finish.

“The Champions League will always be the measure of this club,” he said.

“If you measure it against what others are spending then obviously it looks like a very difficult ask but we can never give up that fight.

“Teams already in the top four have strengthened even more. But if we don’t have the money to do that then we have to find different ways to do it.

“We have obviously tried to improve the group but at the same time we’ve had to move others out to balance the books.

“It still bodes well for a really exciting time for us I feel. It’s up to us to make a challenge and ensure we are in the conversation.”

Rodgers hasn’t added to his squad since early July, although left-back Aly Cissokho is set to arrive on a season-long loan from Valencia.

The manager’s summer transfer dealings have so far returned a profit but he expects that to change before the window shuts.

Having missed out on the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Diego Costa, the Reds have now turned their attentions to £30million-rated Anzhi Makhachkala winger Willian.

They have opened negotiations about a deal but face competition from a number of Premier League rivals. Rodgers is adamant the lack of new arrivals in pre-season isn’t due to a lack of cash.

“There is money there to spend,” he said.

“It comes down to wanting to sign the right type of player. It’s about availability.

“There is a very small pool of talent. The market in terms of quality is very small.

“If some of those targets go to Champions League level clubs then it obviously makes it difficult.

“We’ll continue to search to bring in hungry, good players. We hope we can get a few in before the end of the window.

“We all know the squad needs strengthening in order to give us a fighting chance.

“The owners have been great in wanting to support those signings. We’re waiting on players becoming available and hopefully continuing our progress.”

It’s been a summer of change at Stoke with Tony Pulis replaced at the helm by Mark Hughes.

The new boss has altered their direct approach but they remain combative and Liverpool must rise to the kind of physical challenge they struggled against last term.

“Assessing Stoke over the course of pre-season, they have adapted their style a bit and are looking to build the game out from the back more,” Rodgers said.

“Traditionally, they have been a very tough team to play against and I am sure with more or less the same players there it’s going to be equally as tough. They will pose a threat but we’re very confident. The physical issue is never a worry for this team. We have enough physical presence.

“We were disappointing when we played Stoke away last season but we had enough chances to beat them at home. Pre-season has been good and now we want to make a bright start.”