Soccer: Liverpool's manager hails champions

Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers. Photo / AP

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has congratulated champions Manchester City but has vowed his side will make an even stronger challenge for the English Premier League title next season.

Despite their 2-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield yesterday, second placed Liverpool were unable to celebrate a first league crown in 24 years as City beat West Ham 2-0 to finish two points clear at the top.

But after improving from seventh last season to genuine title contenders, Rodgers believes there should be nothing but pride and optimism surging around Anfield.

"Congratulations to Manchester City. It's the most competitive league in football and they are the champions," he said.

"But my overriding feeling is one of sheer pride in our players. We finished the season winning 12 out of 14 games, drawing one and losing one, which shows an incredible level of quality and consistency over that period.

"People have looked at us and asked 'have we coped with the pressure?' I think 12 wins out of 14 shows that we clearly have.

"We would have preferred to have finished top but to finish just behind City is a mark of the progress we have made this season.

"It's been a wonderful adventure for us. We have scored 100 goals which is a remarkable achievement. We know the areas we need to improve on and we will be better.

"We will come back mentally and technically ready for next season. It's a young group and we will add more players to be ready to fight again."

- AAP