Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that his side are "ahead of schedule" in his long-term plans for the club.

The Reds mounted an unexpected title challenge last season and eventually finished second to Manchester City, as they missed out on the Premier League trophy on the final day of the campaign.

The club's pre-season aim last term was to achieve Champions League qualification, and the Northern Irishman thinks that his side are further along in their progression than he expected when he took over in 2012.

He told the club's official TV station: "The club wanted to go in the direction of giving the team an identity and a vision and something they could carry on for a number of years [when they employed me].

"That was obviously key when I came in. There was some difficulty early on in my first six months, because we were trying to implement something that was right throughout the club, and not just the first team.

"And when everyone grasped their identity, I think last year, we made a big stride forward, but there's still quite a way to go to where we want to go. I think we're ahead of schedule, there's no doubt about it."

Liverpool continued their pre-season preparations with a penalties victory against City in New York on Wednesday.