John W Henry: Liverpool FC do not have to qualify for the Champions League

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by Crunch Sports Staff

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Brendan Rodgers (C) poses with a team jersey flanked by Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre (L) and club chairman Tom Werner (R) to announce his arrival at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on June 1, 2012 (credit: ANDREW YATES/AFP/GettyImages)

New Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been told by owner John W Henry that he does not have to qualify for the Champions League this season.

Twelve months ago Henry, as lead figure for owners Fenway Sports Group, had told then manager Kenny Dalglish to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.

The Scot was sacked after the Reds finished eighth in the Premiership last season, despite winning the club's first trophy for six years with victory over Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final, and leading the club to the FA Cup final.

But former Swansea boss Rodgers will not have the same demands - at least not yet.

"We don't want to put any pressure on Brendan by saying you have got to make the Champions League this year," said Henry.

"Of course he wants to make the Champions League, we all do and so does every team in the Premier League.

"I thought it was realistic last season but we were so far off that pace.

"At this point we're just trying to get things stabilised - that should be one of our goals."

Henry also admits the club may have made mistakes since FSG took charge of the Merseyside club in October 2010.

"We know more now than we did when we bought the club," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"We didn't know a lot at the start. We have had something like 20 months to study and learn and this is really the direction we want to go in.

"We are working on a long-term programme and we are fully committed to this programme. It will be the kind of football we want to play.

"Brendan has a very structured approach and he plays the kind of football that we think Liverpool fans will love to see.

"You can see why he was appointed. He's an inspirational figure.

"He's very charismatic, he's smart, he knows what he wants to accomplish and he's determined to accomplish it.

"Everything I have heard so far in the way of feedback about him has been very positive."

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