HONEST Brendan Rodgers has warned the Kop: It will be a long haul back to glory for Liverpool.
The Anfield boss can only dream of the £70million splashed by today’s visitors Chelsea to make sure they battled into the top four.
And Rodgers is urging patience for the longer-term plan he believes will take his Reds back into football’s elite.
Liverpool have ground to make up and could well finish seventh — just one place better off than they were under Kenny Dalglish a year ago.
But Rodgers said: “There is not going to be a big instant improvement. That is the reality. I think that unless you can throw £100m at it...
“Look where Manchester City were for years and then they had a load of money thrown at them to take them so far.
“Then there was another load to take them to the top.
“Unless you can do that, you are just going to make marginal gains. But the little steps will take you there.”
That is not what the Kop wants to hear, especially with improved neighbours Everton threatening to finish as Merseyside top dogs next month.
Rodgers added: “It is the league now — that’s the level. That Chelsea spend was to try to get back in there again, so it demonstrates our task.
“The club finished eighth last year. If we finish seventh this time, it might not seem a lot but it is one step toward where we want to go.
“That’s the reality. There is no point in me sitting here saying that I think we can win the league.
“It doesn’t stop us wanting to go and win the league. It doesn’t stop us being the very best that we can.
“I believe if we make constant improvements year after year, then we will get there.”
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich shelled out for Oscar, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Demba Ba to reinforce Chelsea after they finished sixth while lifting the European Cup.
Rodgers said: “If you don’t have the resources to go and do that — and that was to a team who won the Champions League — then you have to find different ways.
“We will get players in who we think we can develop and improve.
“We will look for players for today as well as tomorrow, but we have to try to coach our way to get there rather than spending our way there.”
Fernando Torres, Chelsea’s £50m British record signing from Anfield in 2011, returns to his old hunting ground today as well as former Kop boss Rafa Benitez.
And Torres’ rediscovery of decent form under his old mentor has not surprised Rodgers at all.
He said: “The only thing missing with Fernando has been confidence. He has not lost his quality.
“He was arguably one of the best strikers in the world for 18 months at Anfield. Then he had a setback, an injury, and never really regained the heights.
“But maybe that was the first setback he’s ever had. It’s why I always judge young players after they’ve had a trauma.
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