Rodgers aims to build on Liverpool's top start

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Brendan Rodgers wants to make the most of Liverpool's great start to the season. Photo: AFP

Brendan Rodgers has urged Liverpool to build on their perfect start to the season as they attempt to establish themselves as top-four contenders.

Daniel Sturridge was the Reds' scorer for the second weekend with the winner against Aston Villa as they joined Chelsea as the second side to date to claim maximum points from their opening two matches.

Whether 1-0 victories over Villa and Stoke provide sufficient evidence to suggest Rodgers' team can be Champions League contenders this term remains to be seen.

This weekend's meeting with Manchester United should provide a better benchmark, yet after a sluggish start to last season which saw the Anfield club fail to win until September 29, the signs point in the right direction.

"The mentality of the group is to win together. That is important. We have to keep it going," Rodgers said.

"We didn't have a good start at all last year. Since the turn of the year we've been getting better and better."

England international Sturridge made it eight strikes in his past seven Premier League appearances with a fine 21st-minute solo effort, capping an impressive first half from Liverpool.

"Tactically we had to play differently, but I was delighted with the players," Rodgers added.

"Aston Villa have shown in their first couple of games the pace they have in the team and they play on the counter attack.

"In the first half we controlled the ball and the spaces well.

"In the second half, we had to control the zones, defend half a pitch and deny them the space to run into and obviously that means conceding a bit more of the ball."

After their stunning opening-day win at Arsenal and unfortunate defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday, this appeared one game too many for a tired Villa.

"I knew it was going to be a big ask," Villa boss Paul Lambert said. "We have always been in the games. We just got beaten by one. I can't be too critical of the lads because they have given everything. We're a young side but the improvement is there for everyone to see."