Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers was inspired by the performance of Bayern Munich against Manchester City. [Reuters]

Brendan Rodgers has revealed how inspired he was by watching Bayern Munich defeat Manchester City in the Champions League as he looks to get Liverpool back to that level of European dominance.

Liverpool have no European competition this season and Rodgers used the free time to head to the Etihad Stadium to see Bayern compete an impressive 3-1 win over City.

Rodgers took Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard with him as the pair witnessed the reigning European champions demonstrate exactly why they are once again considered one of the finest sides in world football.

It has been four years since Liverpool were in the Champions League and Rodgers admitted that he was given plenty of motivation having watched Pep Guardiola orchestrate a superb performance.

"Steven Gerrard was at the game with me, and one or two other players as well. For anyone in football, if you have a love for the game, it's interesting watching two top teams come together," said Rodgers, as quoted in the Mirror.

"That was as good as it gets, you would do well to see another performance like that one anywhere in Europe.

"You have to learn from that. You look at that level and, for me it's important because Liverpool want to return to that level. You have to keep one eye on the future and if you look at that you see the quality required."

Liverpool currently sit second in the table after an excellent start to the season but Rodgers admits that it will be a difficult task to stay in the top four with plenty of competition in the league this campaign.

"There's an awful lot of work to do, but watching that game was a real motivation. That's where every coach, every manager every player wants to operate," added Rodgers.

"You want to compete at that level and be judged at that level. Obviously this club was doing that for a lot of years."