Video: Brendan Rodgers’s pre-Leicester press conference — quiet January sales

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers does not expect to be particularly active in the transfer window and will put his faith in the raft of signings he made in the summer.


Video: YouTube user IBTimes UK

Despite concerns over form at either ends of the pitch the Reds boss is unlikely to be looking to rectify either when the market reopens in January.

Rodgers will have striker Daniel Sturridge fit again by the middle of next month and fellow forward Mario Balotelli will almost certainly see out the season despite his disappointing performances – having not scored a Premier League goal since his B£16million move from AC Milan – meaning he will be on the bench for most of the second half of the season.

"My first look is always within and I still think we have players who can do that," said the Northern Irishman when asked about what business he may do in the coming weeks.

"There won't be a lot of activity, if any, in January.

"I don't think it is a good time to spend. Last year we never brought anyone in.

"The beauty of our owners is they will always back what it is we want to do and if there was something there we felt would improve us for the short-term and longer term we would do that but I am happy with how the group is progressing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0ylb7rPntU
Video: YouTube user nhlsarok

"We brought in a lot of players (in the summer) who we felt could develop and they are starting to adapt.

"My job is to coach and manage the players here and maximise that talent.

"Years ago players were given time to come into a club and settle and now they are getting judged after one or two days.

"It is so difficult. It is not going to be one or two months (to adapt) and we have also brought in young players.

"I can understand that but it is never that easy for supporters and other people to understand.

"We brought them here because they are very good players, we feel they can contribute now and for the future, and you can see with the work, settling in period and coaching we will see progress being made over the next couple of years.

"Unless it was something that would significantly improve us then I don't want to stockpile players."

Monday's victory over Swansea was the first time Liverpool had scored four in a match since March but none of the goals were scored by a player who could be classed as a genuine forward.

It is an area where the team has struggled this season in the absence of Sturridge, who has not featured since August 31 and is still undergoing rehabilitation in the United States, but Rodgers believes the return of the England international will make a difference.

"Sturridge is coming back into the country early January to finalise his rehab and the middle to end (of the month) he will be available to play," added Rodgers.

The Reds boss also denied the position of Balotelli, facing a long spell on the bench, had become untenable.

"I don't see that. The team functions in a certain way, and we need a certain profile of player to make it work but he is still a player who has a contribution to make," he said.

"He is working hard because he wants to be the best he can be and whether he starts a game or from the bench we will look for a contribution from him."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, December 29, 2014: Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers before the Premier League match against Swansea City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Despite a number of false dawns the win over Swansea, securing back-to-back league wins for only the third time this season, was seen as a turning point.

As they head into the new year, a period 12 months ago when results went into overdrive as they mounted an unlikely title challenge, Rodgers is looking for another upturn.

"It has been another year of progress," he said ahead of the visit of struggling Leicester.

"I know since the start of the season it hasn't been as good as we want but over the course of 2014 we have made significant strides forward.

"If you look at the points over the course of this year only Manchester City and Chelsea are above us on 88 (Liverpool recorded 76).

"Despite the start to this season we have made good progress and I have been pleased but we have work to do.

"I think there are a lot of very good teams trying to get into the top four, Chelsea and City are probably too far ahead for us to affect that at this stage but there are places a number of teams are going for."

PA