BRENDAN RODGERS HAS conceded that Liverpool find it difficult to lure big names to Anfield, with the club set to lose Steven Gerrard in the summer.

The midfielder will move to LA Galaxy at the end of the season and follows Luis Suarez out of the club after the striker left for Barcelona in a €94 million deal in July.

Rodgers has already revealed his regret at missing out on Alexis Sanchez, after the forward opted to move to Arsenal instead, while another target, Xherdan Shaqiri, is set to join Inter.

“Last season, after nearly winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League and playing a game that excited people, we were in a great position to attract a high level of player,” he told reporters.

“We have to believe that the status of this club and the idea that the club moving forward will make players still want to come here.

“The team has changed and the players have changed but the great name of Liverpool is still the same.

“For a lot of players, it’s two things — game time and money, simple as that. That’s the way of the modern game — how often are they going to play and money that they’ll earn.

“There are cases when players will forfeit the financial side to come to a project that they feel they can play a big part in. It’s difficult of course because players will opt, for whatever reason, to go elsewhere.

“Some may prefer to go to Spain, some to London. But you just have to keep working and finding the players who can make you the best you can be.”

Rodgers does concede he needs to strengthen his squad despite a summer spending spree in excess €128m that saw Mario Balotelli, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic, amongst others, arrive at Anfield.

“There have been some outstanding players who have come but there is no doubt that we need to replace them either through some of our young players getting an opportunity or our players stepping up to the mark, but also bringing in that quality. Time will tell on that,” he added.

“Over the last couple of years some of our top players have gone. I want to work with that elite level of player, as a coach and a manager. I enjoy working equally with the stars and world-class talent as I do with young players. This is Liverpool. We have to be in the running for the world’s best.”

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