Rodgers: Anfield can make the difference

The Northern Irishman's team have claimed six successive victories on their own pitch, consecutively seeing off Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, Fulham, Norwich City, West Ham United and Cardiff City.

Broaden the analysis to the calendar year and the statistics show that the Reds won 13 of 18 league fixtures in L4 during the past 12 months, firing 44 goals and conceding only 12 in the process.

It is a record which provides the boss with added confidence as his side prepare to kick off 2014 on home soil against Hull City, before welcoming the division's heavyweights further down the line.

He commented: "We are very strong at home. That's what gives me the great confidence.

"How we've been at Anfield over the course of this year means we have a big part to play in our own destiny and that is all you can ever hope for.

"We have got all these teams to play at home. All the teams, apart from Manchester United, are all to come to Anfield.

"You look at the other teams, like Manchester City, they have played a lot of their games at home and so have got to travel.

"They have had their difficulties on their travels. So for us the second half of the season at Anfield will be massive. We love playing there. We enjoy playing there.

"We feel comfortable there to go and get a result against anyone and we aim, along with our supporters, to make it a real difficult place to get a result. And if we can reinforce the group in these next four weeks then it sets us up."

The manager continued: "I think it's a combination of the confidence of the players and an aggressive style of play. And also improvements to the team. It's been very pleasing.

"I said before we have had lots of compliments about the creativity of the team but what has been important for me has been the consistency. It is something we have to keep focused on, and going into every game like it is a cup final."

Liverpool topped the table on Christmas Day but have since slipped to fifth following back-to-back narrow defeats by Manchester City and Chelsea last week.

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Assessing the Reds' position at the halfway stage of the campaign, Rodgers declared himself satisfied with the current state of play but called for a return to winning ways on Wednesday.

He added: "We're at the halfway point and we've arrived in great condition. If you had said we would be six points off the lead at halfway then I would've taken that at the start.

"We have got it all to play for. When you look at the two teams we have just played there is a huge difference in terms of squads. But we're not going to sit back and cry about it.

"If we win the game against Hull it is nine points out of 15 and if you consider that with Tottenham, City and Chelsea away it's actually a decent return.

"If we get three points against Hull then we leave the period with a decent return. Whatever squad we have we will go into the game positive to get a result."