Brendan Rodgers has warned Manchester United that if they miss out on the top four this year it could be a long raod back.

The Liverpool boss was speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League tie between the bitter rivals and warned that, as Liverpool have experienced, the reigning champions may find it difficult to attract the best players if they’re not playing in the Champions League.

"The best players want to play in the best competition," said Rodgers.

"Any club will suffer the same when they're not in there. It will hurt you, but they will know that."

United are currently 9 points off Manchester City, in fourth place, but their local rivals have two games in hand. The champions are 11 points off Liverpool and Arsenal, with both having played the same amount of games as United.

Should United miss out on the top 4 it will be the first time since 1995/96 they have not competed in the Champions League.

Rodgers, went on to warn of the difficulties involved in getting back in to the top 4 once you have fallen away from the top: "It's not simple to get back in. You think every year is the next year.

"I was reading a Jan Molby (former Liverpool and Denmark midfielder) interview about the great Liverpool teams of the past. He said when they missed out one year became two and then all of a sudden it was 20 years since they last won the title."

"We weren't in the Champions League and found it difficult," said Northern Irishman Rodgers.

"In order to get in some of the types of players we want, that's where we need to be and we're trying to be.

"We have a long way to go but have shown great potential to be in there. I believe if we can get to that level then it gives us a massive advantage as a club."