Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers dismisses Manchester City link

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied reports he could succeed Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City manager and wants to remain at Anfield for as long as he can.

Reports have suggested that the Premier League champions could replace the Chilean with Rodgers, who side beat City 2-1 as they lost further ground in the title race.

But the Liverpool boss has quashed the claims and has hinted he wants to further extend his current contract with the Merseyside club, a deal he only renewed in 2014.

"That doesn't distract me [City reports]," he told reporters ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final against Blackburn Rovers. "I chose to come to Liverpool because I hoped I could be here for many years.

"The speculation is just the nature of football I think. I remember earlier this season playing Ludogorets away and as I walked off I saw a banner that said 'Rodgers Out' so I never get too carried away.

"I always have that in the back of my mind, although it was near the dugout and wasn't someone with the away supporters. As long as the people here at Liverpool, the board, the supporters and the players are ultimately happy with the work, I would love to be here for as long as I can.

"We are working into an exciting phase after this season where hopefully, if we get young players tied to contracts, that will allow us to win trophies with this way of working.

"We're on the way there and it's about making the steps to challenge for major honours consistently and to win them. That's what we want to do."