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Brendan Rodgers has saluted the ambition and professionalism of his in-form Liverpool side in the build up to Sunday's crunch Premier League clash against Manchester United.

The Reds players returned to Melwood on Tuesday after being granted five days off by the manager.

Their first session was supposed to ease them back gently but such was the commitment on show that Rodgers had to step in and tell them to take it easy.

“It was interesting really as we had an adaptation day after they had been off for a few days,” Rodgers revealed.

“It was supposed to be a low intensity session, but the quality and the intensity they worked at was incredible. I actually had to take them off it a little bit.

“They are a very focused group. They are very keen and very ambitious for the club to do well.

“I see that in their work every day. They are brilliant professionals.

“We have been terrific for the last 14 months or so and the club is on a real high. That's big credit to the players and all the staff, who are working tirelessly every day.

“Sunday is a game we are really looking forward to. For us it's about retaining the focus. We know it's a big game but we've done well in a lot of the big games this season.”

In pictures: Past Liverpool v United clashes

Liverpool find themselves second in the Premier League with 10 games remaining – seven points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.

Rodgers has played down the Reds' hopes of clinching the title but is proud of the progress they have made during his tenure.

“People will know it's unprecedented really to go from seventh to winning the title, especially when you look at the squads of Man City and Chelsea,” he told TalkSport.

“Jose (Mourinho) is right in that Man City have the power in terms of their squad. If they win their three games in hand they will go to the top and you would expect them to win those.

“I have never made a big push publicly about us wining the title. For me it's not about playing down expectations or mind games, it's really about taking a humble approach to the season.

“We have been letting our actions on the pitch do the talking and remaining dignified in our approach to everything. We've been looking to improve our performance levels and that's been getting better all the time.

“This is a club with huge expectations. It's not until you arrive here and you realise the sheer scale of the club.

“My job was to come in and build on the brilliant job Kenny Dalglish did.

“It's great to hear people talking about our style of football, winning games and our aggressive attitude in games.

“We want to continue on that road. There's still a long way to go but hopefully we're on course to put the club back where it should be. This is a club with big ambitions both domestically and in Europe.”

Top scorer Luis Suarez may have been the Reds' outstanding performer this season but Rodgers also saluted the contribution of striker Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Jordan Henderson .

The duo's consistency for the Reds appears certain to earn them a place in the England squad for this summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.

“Daniel is potentially world class,” Rodgers said.

“He has got everything to be a world class striker

“He's been given an opportunity here at a huge club and a lot of people are helping him to implement his talent.

“He's a good boy. He got a lot of bad press before he came here that he had this certain arrogance about him.

“But he's a boy at 24 years of age who has all the tools - the speed, the power, two great feet and he's getting better in the air.

“He still has a lot of improvements to make but the combination between him and Luis gives us a real threat.

“As for Jordan, I don't think there's any doubt he deserves to be on that plane (to Brazil).

“He has made huge strides after coming into here as a young player with a big price tag

“In the last 12 months he has really pushed on both technically and tactically.

“He's a great learner. He pushes himself every day in training. He looks after his body and on top of that he's a real good young man. I know his family are very proud of him.

“I can see him being an important player for Liverpool for many years. At 23, he's only going to get better.”

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