Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has played down claims that his team cannot compete with many of their Premier League rivals physically.

The Reds were outplayed by Manchester United during the first-half of their weekend clash at Old Trafford due, in part, to a cautious approach.

However, they improved in the second period, with the Northern Irishman adopting a more direct style.

They have also struggled against the likes of Stoke and West Ham this season who have utilised their superiority in terms of strength.

Rodgers believes that his side can compete with many of their rivals, and that although some of his star players are not physically imposing they have the necessary aggression:

"Aggression isn't about having a 6ft 3ins player in the middle of the field who is going to drive you forward, aggression is in the mind," he is quoted by Sky Sports.

"We have Steven Gerrard, who is one of the best examples of that in this country over the last 10 years.

"We have that aggression but it is not about what size you are, it is about the fight which is in there.”

The Anfield club’s defeat to the Red Devils means they are yet to beat a side from the current top ten in the league this term.

Rodgers doesn’t feel that this is an issue and believes that his side have been unlucky in some key fixtures:

"It is not a problem. We should have beaten Manchester City earlier this season, we should have beaten Everton away and we haven't,

"We have been close in a number of the games against the guys at the top end of the league but that is the next step for us."

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