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At the time it was a meeting which rubbed salt into gaping wounds. Now Brendan Rodgers insists it’s a source of inspiration.

In the build-up to the final day of the Premier League campaign back in May, Brendan Rodgers had to sit down with club officials to sort out plans for a possible title celebration.

It was a party which, deep down, the Liverpool boss knew wouldn’t be happening.

The dramatic 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at the start of that week had effectively killed off the Reds’ dreams of glory.

But because there was still that glimmer of hope Rodgers and his players had to be prepared.

The miracle they needed failed to materialise – a 2-1 win over Newcastle at a downcast Anfield rendered meaningless by Manchester City’s routine 2-0 victory at home to West Ham, which meant Manuel Pellegrini’s men finished two points clear.

“It’s one of the things from last season which really drives me on for this season,” Rodgers told the ECHO.

“In the week leading into the last game of the season when you still have a chance of winning the title, you had to look at the pitch organisation for a trophy presentation and sort out plans for what to do if you win the title.

“I had to sit there knowing that our chance had probably slipped away. But I still had to go through it with delegates from the club and look at how it would be if we won the title.

“Walking up the champions’ carpet, on to the podium, how it all looks.

“It was something that out of choice I probably wouldn’t have done but I wanted to do it in the end because it’s a great motivation and a way of inspiring you for the future.”

With just a fortnight of the season to run Liverpool’s destiny had been in their own hands. Seven points from their final three matches and they would have been champions.

Having come so close, emotions were raw. Rodgers has still never seen the footage of a jubilant Vincent Kompany lifting the Premier League trophy above his head or City’s subsequent open top bus parade.

“I can honestly tell you I’ve never watched it,” Rodgers said.

“I didn’t want to. It would have been difficult. It would have hurt.

“It was one where we just missed out and it obviously went down to the very last game. It was something that was difficult but it’s given us great motivation.

“I didn’t want to look at all the celebrations and all the congratulations to them. But I’ll certainly watch it all if we ever win it.”

Liverpool and City were the top-flight’s great entertainers last term as both registered a century of league goals.

The rivalry will be renewed at the Etihad Stadium tonight with Rodgers insisting his side have both the quality and the belief to put down a marker for the season ahead.

Liverpool were the last team to beat City back in April and they are unbeaten on their travels in the Premier League since losing at Stamford Bridge last December.

“I’ve been really pleased in my two seasons here with the way we’ve performed at the Etihad,” Rodgers said.

“Our performance levels have been excellent. We were unlucky not to win there in my first year when we drew 2-2 and then last season we had a lapse in concentration just before half-time that cost us. We should have taken something from that game.

“I think some of the Manchester City players admitted themselves we were probably the most difficult opponent they faced last season.

“They have some of the top players in European football but for us we know now that we have been consistently competitive over the past 18 months.

“We just got pipped by Manchester City over 38 games last season. But it’s a new season with a new team here which is evolving.

“We have great confidence in how we’ve worked over pre-season and we had a great start against Southampton in terms of the result.

“It’s a beautiful pitch at the Etihad which suits us perfectly. We will have great support there and we’ll look to put on a really positive performance.”

Rodgers is confident the Reds will raise the bar following their unconvincing opening weekend victory over Saints when they were indebted to Daniel Sturridge’s late winner.

The manager insists the Anfield playing surface was partly responsible for a display lacking tempo.

“Yes, maybe the fluency wasn’t there but we weren’t helped by the pitch,” he said.

“The pitch doesn’t help us at Anfield because the pitch is too slow. It’s not good at all. But there’s nothing we can do at this stage.

“The watering system is outdated so the speed of our game is sometimes slowed down compared to when we play on other pitches. The game was too slow for us.

“In terms of performance, I’m not worried at all. It will come.

“I was as pleased with the Southampton win as I was with any of our emphatic victories last year. That was the kind of game that when I first

came in we would have drawn or even lost.

“I now know we have the mental resilience in the squad. We have that

ingredient to not be at our best but still win.

“The most important thing in your first game is the result. Now we look forward and go into the City game with a positive mind.”