Brendan Rodgers: Liverpool can challenge for top four next season

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes his side can close the gap between themselves and the top four next season.

While stating that a lot of work has been done to improve the squad at Anfield, Rodgers admits his quest to challenge next season will depend on their success in the transfer market this summer. "I am very hopeful with what I have seen with the (current squad's) mentality and it is our job in the summer to get the right types of characters to build that winning mentality and turn a lot of our draws into victories which I believe will push us into the top four next year," he added. "Young players have got an opportunity to play and I've seen development in the players but we are here to win. "Next year can be a big year for us if we can add the right type of mentalities to the group and make sure we become more consistent next year. "My biggest aim was to try to improve the consistency of the group but if we are going to make the jump into the next phase we have to improve again." Meanwhile, Liverpool's friendly against Ajax Cape Town on 21 May has been cancelled after the South African Premier Soccer League ruled it could not be played during their season.