Liverpool manager predicts exciting future after young stars shine against Manchester City

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed his young Reds stars following their emphatic win over Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.

The Merseyside club kept their assault for a place in the top four on track with the win, but dented City's hopes of retaining the title, as this gives Chelsea the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points if they win the game they have in hand over the champions.

Rodgers' side, who were challenging for the Premier League title 12 months ago, are currently in a battle to finish in the top four after a poor start to the season due to injuries to key players and also the loss of Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer.

However, the Northern Irishman's team have stepped up since the turn of the New Year and are currently the form team in England having gone unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games.

The manager is proud of his young team, who have matured as the season has progressed. The average age of the side that beat the Etihad Stadium outfit on Sunday was 23, with seven players being under the age of 24.

The Reds boss is confident that Liverpool are in for an exciting future if they can keep hold of players like Raheem Sterling, Jordan Ibe, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson among others.

"I thought the performance was unbelievable when you consider the age of our players and look at the level of players they have - world class players," Rodgers said, as quoted by the Mirror.

"It was a great performance and a really good symbol of how we've been working. That's the exciting thing for me and I said earlier in the season that once they began to settle and understand what's expected of them it can be an exciting future for the team here."

"We have a lot of young players, and if you track their ages then it's very exciting. If they all stay together then it can be a real exciting time here at this club," the former Swansea City manager added.