The manager has blooded the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan into the first-team fold and is keen to make a long-standing mark on the development of youth at Anfield

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has outlined his desire to leave a legacy of development at Anfield.

Rodgers has led the club to second in the Premier League table this season, with a brand of exciting attacking football that has seen them score 73 goals in just 28 matches – the highest total in the division.

The Reds are on course for a return to the Champions League after a four-campaign absence and, sitting just four points adrift of leaders Chelsea, are in contention to end their 24-year wait for a 19th title.

Rodgers has shown willingness to blood youngsters, with Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan now established members of the side and the manager says this policy is just as key as winning silverware.

“There’s no point in having a youth system and an academy system in place if you’re not going to look from within,” Rodgers told the club’ s official website.

“For me, it’s how I work, it’s also part of my definition of success.

“When I eventually retire from football, I want to be able to look back and see that, not only have I won trophies, but I’ve developed a football club that has brought through their own youth players and individuals and made them better. That is very important in my work.

“Other managers may be different and might just be about purely winning trophies, but for me success isn’t just about picking up the trophy at the end of the season.

“It’s also about the football club, giving value to young players and seeing them develop.”

Rodgers went on to insist Liverpool remain a work in progress, despite the huge strides forward the club has taken this season.

“I’ve been satisfied in terms of the progress we have made but there is still a long way to go in terms of where I want to go with the whole project,” he added.

“We’re recognised now as one of the most exciting teams in the country to watch, over the next 18 months we want to eventually be really challenging on the trophy front.”

The midfielder’s fine domestic form saw him earn a place in England’s starting line-up against Denmark, and is now eyeing a spot in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Brazil

Jordan Henderson hopes he can get a spot in the England World Cup squad this summer if he continues to play well for Liverpool.

The midfielder started in England’s 1-0 friendly win over Denmark on Wednesday and he says he is enjoying his football now more than ever before.

However, the 23-year-old is concentrating on keeping up his level of performance for his club before he looks towards representing his country in Brazil this year.

“I’m playing with a lot of confidence and I’m loving playing football at the minute,” Henderson told the Liverpool Echo.

“Things have been going well for Liverpool and to get another call up for England gave me a boost as well. Hopefully I can keep going for the rest of the season.

“It would mean everything to me to go to the World Cup and represent my country.

“First and foremost, I need to do a job for Liverpool. I’ll give my all between now and the end of the season. If I do that then I will have a good chance.”

Five Liverpool players started Wednesday’s game at Wembley, with Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, who scored the winner, Glen Johnson and captain Steven Gerrard joining Henderson in Roy Hodgson’s side.

And the former Sunderland man believes such recognition is testament to Liverpool’s progress under Rodgers. 

“It shows you how well we have done this season,” Henderson added. “We are all working really well together and linking up brilliantly. We have to try to bring that into the England set-up as much as we can.”

The pair have scored 45 goals between them in a hugely impressive 2013-14 campaign for the Merseysiders and the Uruguayan has nothing but praise for his fellow forward

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez insists that there is no secret to his successful attacking partnership with team-mate Daniel Sturridge.

The duo have struck 45 times in all competitions this season and are playing a key role as Brendan Rodgers’s side look to challenge for the Premier League title.

Although Suarez is adamant that there is no clear explanation for the duo’s deadly combination, he acknowledges that the Englishman’s success this season has ensured that opposition defenders are not just worried about the Uruguayan.

“There’s no real secret,” he told FourFourTwo. “The best thing is that defences aren’t only looking at what Suarez is doing.

“We create space for each other and for our team-mates to take advantage of. If we’re marked then it means someone else isn’t.

“Daniel’s a great guy, always making me, Lucas [Leiva] and Philippe [Coutinho] laugh by speaking in our languages.

“There were lots of Brazilians at Chelsea so his Portuguese isn’t bad, actually. He should do well at the World Cup because he already knows the language.”

Suarez also discussed his screamer against Norwich City earlier in the season, which saw the former Ajax striker open the scoring by smashing an unbelievable volley from distance over John Ruddy and into the net.

He said of the goal: “My third that day – a flick over a defender and hard shot into the corner – was beautiful but I can’t even explain the first goal.

“The ball was bouncing and I shot, purely for the sake of shooting, and it went in the perfect spot. I didn’t look at the ‘keeper or the goal once.

“Sometimes when a striker is in the middle of a run of good luck, you’ve got to make the most of it – more or less shoot from anywhere and see what happens.”