Rodgers salutes goal hero Sturridge

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on striker Daniel Sturridge after his goal sunk Manchester United 1-0 at Anfield in the Barclays Premier League.

It's the club's best start to a league campaign for almost two decades, with Sturridge making the stand-out contribution.

"I am delighted with his application," said Rodgers.

"He was nowhere near fit.

"He played a full game and extra time in the week and he had a slight knock on his thigh.

"Even at 70 per cent he will be as good if not better than most Premier League strikers but you have to have that will and desire to put yourself out there.

"He can always be a threat."

For a club who boast such an impressive history but have not won the title since 1990, Liverpool know it will not take much for their fans to start dreaming of past glories.

And as Monday would have been Bill Shankly's 100th birthday, it seems an obvious thing to do on the back of three 1-0 Premier League wins.

However, Rodgers is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

"We have got 35 games to go so we won't be getting carried away," he said.

"The team has a lot to improve. We have got a lot of work to do ahead of us.

"The initial challenge is to get in the top four."