Brendan Rodgers: I Want Six Players in the Summer

Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he will sign six players in the summer to prepare Liverpool for Europe next season.

The Reds have qualified for the Champions League after five long years and the former Swansea manager insists that they cannot compete on all fronts with the squad they currently have.

The Merseyside club have to strengthen their midfield and defence if they have to put in a proper European challenge and keep themselves in the top four for another year, especially with teams around them expected to get stronger.

Liverpool's biggest threat is likely to come from Manchester United, who are likely to miss out on the Europa League after finishing seventh and will be in a position to challenge the Reds for a top four spot.

"It's hard to define numbers, but it will have to be something like five or six. It's absolutely right to say the squad isn't big enough. The owners recognise that and have been great," Rodgers said.

"They have entrusted me to come in and put my vision in place. They want something sustainable. They have brought a manager in who will, hopefully, be here a long time. I am someone who builds. I'm not a maintainer. I like to grow and develop and nurture.

"We've a great recruitment team who have been preparing for quite a while. They know the number and profile of players we want," he added.

The Reds have more or less exhausted their bid for the title after drawing against Crystal Palace in a bizarre game where Liverpool conceded three goals in 11 minutes to squander their lead. Joe Allen, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez put the Merseyside club forward, but Palace showed immense determination to stage a late comeback, as the Reds handed the initiative to City.

The Citizens play Aston Villa on Wednesday as they look to open up a two-point lead on Liverpool, with two games left in the season.