Boss pinpoints key to success

The Reds will play host to Mancini and his Manchester City side on Sunday afternoon as they look to build on a hard-fought away win against Hearts in midweek.

And Rodgers added that in order to have a successful 2012-13 campaign, turning Anfield into a fortress will be crucial - and he's hoping to kick-start this process with a win against the champions at the weekend.

"We've got a lot of work to do," admitted the boss in his pre-match press conference. "There's absolutely no doubt about that.

"But for us it won't be for the want of trying. The players here have got a great focus and an incredible attitude. They are very determined and have a real drive to make the supporters proud.

"So we'll certainly be fighting and hopefully that will be the case come the end of the season.

"We know that if we are going to have any sort of success this year, we've got to make sure we can win as a many of our home games as we possibly can. Manchester City are the benchmark, they are the champions and it's going to be a really difficult game.

"But my players are really focused and looking forward to the game. Anfield is somewhere we want to make sure is a real fortress and there's no better game to start working towards that than against the champions.

"It's going to be a wonderful occasion. It's a really special feeling when you are driving to Anfield for the game, so I'm really looking forward to it and I hope we can get the right result."

Asked whether he felt the game against City could provide a truer reflection of how the squad is progressing than last weekend's opener against West Brom, the manager replied: "I don't think you really see it until after the first 10 games.

"The transfer window shuts and the squad calms down. Everybody focuses and they know exactly where they are at. Everybody gets a chance to get up and running.

"But you can't wait for 10 games - for me it's always important to win the next game. After West Brom we were disappointed but we focused on the next game and that was Hearts - which we won."

Rodgers was in attendance as City trailed to newly-promoted Southampton at the Etihad on the opening day of the season until late strikes clinched them a 3-2 win.

And the manager insisted that City's resilient opening-day display proves Mancini's side have got the mentality to overcome any obstacle put before them.

"Man City will have the belief," he said. "And I think we'll see that even more so this year. When you become a champion, it gives you that wee bit more confidence and that allowed them to come from 2-1 down to go on and get the win against Southampton.

"I went to the game last week and it was a very close match. Reading were also terrific during the week against Chelsea, so every game at this level is very difficult.

"It's great credit to Southampton in coming to the champions for their first game in the top flight and playing so well. I did it last year with Swansea and I found how difficult that can be. Southampton stayed in the game right through and that's great credit to them.

"We know City have qualities but I am concentrating more on my own squad and looking more at the world-class players that I have. We know it's going to be a good game for us.

"We have to be at our best and that's all we ever ask. If we lose a game we just hope that the other team has had to be at their best to win. Last weekend, we could of had that day 1,000 times over and it couldn't have worked out any worse for us in every sort of way."

The manager also provided an update on Andy Carroll's fitness after the forward missed out on Liverpool's Europa League play-off against Hearts on Thursday due to injury.

"We're hoping he will be fine to join in training tomorrow," said Rodgers. "It was too much of a risk (to play him against Hearts). He was due to play in the game but unfortunately for him, a scan showed that he has a slight movement in his hamstring.

"We're hoping he'll be available at the weekend. He's a good guy and there's been plenty of speculation over him this summer but both him and I have great communication. He's worked hard and he's been fighting away to be in the squad. So hopefully he'll be fit for tomorrow and available for the weekend."