Rodgers vows to get ’Pool back in mix

Fulham 1 Liverpool 3

They did so at Craven Cottage thanks to a high-class hat-trick from Daniel Sturridge, but it is a sign of how the wheel has turned that Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, can be reasonably pleased with his first season in charge.

Seventh place represents a par result for Rodgers, who has shown in signings such as Philippe Coutinho and Sturridge that there are reasons to be hopeful for next season.

Liverpool’s decline, certainly in relation to Manchester United, goes back over two decades, and changes cannot be wrought overnight.

But the Anfield club will still feel they have some cause to be optimistic. If they can keep Luis Suarez and find a top-class replacement for their departing club legend, Jamie Carragher, Rodgers can hope for an assault on the top five.

Yesterday was simply about putting this season to bed, which they did despite the setback of Dimitar Berbatov’s opener. But this result ensures Fulham are still treading water. They are all but safe due to Aston Villa and Wigan facing each other on the final day of the season but this has not been a campaign to remember.

They had no answer to Coutinho and Sturridge though. The latter drew on his Chelsea past as he became involved in a spat with the home fans, but it was a battle he won easily.

Some players need to be a little angry to play well, and Sturridge seems to fall into that category. If he scores a hat-trick every week – and he has now scored 11 in 14 matches for Liverpool since joining in January – then Rodgers won’t mind at all.

“There are some areas of his game he needs to improve but he is an outstanding player,” said Rodgers.

“I always felt he needed an opportunity. He has got that with us and he has an outstanding record.

“I think we can have an exciting season next year. We need more depth but we will be looking for a real sustainable challenge for the top four.”

As for Fulham manager Martin Jol there is much work to be done. There are rumours he may not be at Fulham next season after little sign of progress.

“We knew the last seven or eight games could be a heavy schedule and it has been. Last year I thought we really made a big step,” he said.

“But we had to start again [having sold Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele] so that is why I say that on one hand it was disappointing, on the other we have to count our blessing we had 40 points by the start of April.”

Following Dimitar Berbatov’s opener, Sturridge took centre stage. His first was a beauty, twisting past Aaron Hughes before lashing into the roof of the net. “The second came when Countinho’s shot deflected into his path, he slid home, and the third was a beauty, chipping over the onrushing Schwarzer after Coutinho’s outrageous pass had taken the Fulham defence out of the equation.