Brendan Rodgers remains confident Liverpool will still be able to attract top-quality players in the summer transfer window, even if they fail to qualify for European football next season.

Brendan Rodgers

"Whether we are in Europe or not we are going to be able to attract good players here. That (Europe) is where we would like to be but if it isn't to be then I still believe we will be able to get in players who can improve us. That is the challenge, to bring those players in over the coming months," Rodgers told the Metro.

The Anfield club were forced to come from a goal down, against relegation-threatened Aston Villa, in the only Premier League game on Sunday.

The win left Rodgers' men seventh in the table, still five points behind Arsenal in fifth (UEFA Europa League) and seven behind Chelsea in fourth (Champions League). Worse still, both London clubs have a game in hand over their Merseyside rival.

It is believed the former Swansea City boss will be handed only £20m in summer transfer funds, meaning he will have to spend wisely. A portion of that will likely be reserved in signing a new central defender to replace the retiring Jamie Carragher.

This, of course, leaves even less with which to strengthen other areas of the team and Rodgers has been quoted as saying he wants to sign at least three more first team players before next season starts.

"We are at a stage of the season when we don't have a trophy to play for as such but we have to fight. It is very important we finish the season well as that can provide a really good platform for us for next season. Of course we always want to be challenging for trophies but if that is not the case you represent the shirt and the city and every game is vital," he concluded.

Liverpool have been linked to 15-year-old teen Rodney Kongolo of Dutch club Feyenoord, Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott and Aston Villa striker Andreas Weimann in recent days.