Brendan Rodgers has hit back at Harry Redknapp's recent high-profile comments by claiming that Liverpool will continue to improve with time.
The Reds suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to West Ham United prior to the international break, which led to criticism from many quarters.
Despite his side being positioned in eighth place, Rodgers is confident that the Merseyside outfit will go from strength to strength this term.
"People will always form opinions and Harry is someone I have huge respect for," he is quoted as saying by TeamTalk.com. "But it's a team that has changed and will progress over the course of the season. I know this group of players will improve as the season moves on.
"We need to give this group a bit of time. That's something ill afforded to you in modern football but I get great excitement when I see the players, and seeing the likes of Daniel [Sturridge] coming back. I think this team will show its worth over the course of the season, not just in these early games.
"In the season when we nearly won the league we didn't really play that brand of football until November or December time. It's clear how we want to work. I'm not one who chops and changes the philosophy – that's something inherent in you. When you work that way with that vision, the consequences of that is teams that will gradually improve. What we are seeing at the moment is players coming in and adapting to it."
Liverpool have a chance to climb up the Premier League table this evening when they take on arch rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
