Rodgers: Missing out on Europe could be ‘blessing’ for Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers has claimed that missing out on Europa League qualification this season would give Liverpool a greater chance of finishing higher in the league next term.

The Reds are seventh in the Premier League table with six games left to play and trail fifth-placed Arsenal by seven points.

Rodgers was tasked with guiding Liverpool back into the Champions League when he took over from Kenny Dalglish at the Anfield helm last May.

But the Northern Irishman insists it “won’t be the end of the world” if his side miss out on a Europa League spot as it would allow them to focus on domestic affairs next term.

“There are two arguments,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. “As a club we want to be in there. We really enjoyed the European football this season after it had been missing for a year and I know the supporters love the travel.

“But you could argue that a season free of European football would give us a greater chance of finishing in a much higher position in the league – of competing for the top four which is a really difficult task with the teams up there and the finances involved.

“We would love to be in there and we want to finish as high as we possibly can, but it won’t be the end of the world if we don’t qualify for Europe.

“If it doesn’t happen then it could end up being a blessing for us.”