Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has played down talks of his side making a serious title challenge this season.

The Reds are currently third in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Arsenal.

However, the Northern Irishman has poured cold water on suggestions that his side can mount a sustained push to win the league this campaign.

"We're here to compete; Liverpool is one of the great institutions of the game. We're never happy when we don't win, but you have to have a sense of perspective as well," Rodgers told the club's official website.

"There will come a time when we start looking at when we can challenge, but we can't get carried away. The club finished eighth the year before I came in, and we finished seventh last year.

"We have stabilised the mentality, there's a strong culture at the club now, and I think the supporters can see the direction we're going in. I still think there's a hell of a lot of improvement for us to make, but in the main we're a tight unit, and we just need to keep moving forward."

Rodgers's side are unbeaten in their last three games and drew 2-2 with Newcastle United on Saturday.