Brendan Rodgers believes Borussia Dortmund's success has shown it is possible for Liverpool to take "the hardest step of all" and achieve Champions League qualification without huge investment.

The Liverpool manager sees parallels between the rebuilding job at Dortmund, who turned to youth following near bankruptcy eight years ago, and the long-term approach he has adopted at Anfield. Liverpool are currently seventh in the Premier League and Rodgers is unlikely to have a substantial transfer budget, by top-four standards at least, for improvements this summer. But he says a top-four challenge is possible next season and that the progress of Jürgen Klopp's Champions League semi-finalists provides a blueprint for clubs without the resources of a Chelsea or Manchester City.

"You can challenge [for the top four] without spending £80m in one summer," Rodgers said. "Look at the example of Borussia Dortmund. A team that won the Champions League and then struggled financially. They went out and rebuilt and it took them four to five years to push on. Then they won the league and their European work suffered. This year you can see they have put their focus on Europe and they have lost their title. That's a team that has been growing over five years.

"Unless you have got the Manchester City or Chelsea money and just bring in £70m-£80m worth in one summer to add to a Champions League-winning group, you need a different way. I think this [Dortmund's] is the best way because you are not just looking after the team but also the club. Of course, supporters will always look at the team but for me it's bigger than that to have success. It's about all aspects of the club, so that when you do arrive you are in a strong position."

Rodgers travels to Reading on Saturday hoping their new manager, Nigel Adkins, will be given time to rebuild the relegation-threatened side; time he feels was lacking when he was sacked by Reading in December 2009. He said: "The idea when I came in was to bring through young players over a period of time. Then they decided it was not the route."

And he admits taking Liverpool from seventh into the top four represents a major challenge regardless of the money available. Rodgers added: "It is the hardest step of all. Chelsea were sixth last year and look at the reinforcements they made to get back to that level again. Then look at Tottenham who were fourth and did not get into Champions League on a technicality. They spent £50m just to stay in there. It's a big ask, that's the reality, but we can really push on next year."