After Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, their gap to the top is an Everest-high 24 points.

But Reds manager Brendan Rodgers took heart from the way they rebounded to trouble United in the second half at Old Trafford, having been played off the park in the opening stanza.

And while Rodgers can only acknowledge that the gulf on the table is daunting, he is certain that in reality, it does not represent a gulf in the class of the two teams.

"We're 24 points behind United - but we're not 24 points behind [in terms of] quality. The points difference is due to the squad. The depth in the squads is the difference for us,” Rodgers said from the media room at Old Trafford.

He continues to maintain that Liverpool are a work in progress, and expects them to give teams like United a tougher time of it in seasons to come.

"Once we close the gap in the squad over these coming windows, I've got great faith we'll be able to challenge,” Rodgers said.

“I've seen enough hope in these opening months to suggest we will do that - and today was another example of it."

According to the Reds boss, the only real difference between United and Liverpool is their depth in squads.

And with Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borrini all on the field together for the first time to share the goal burden briefly on Sunday, Rodgers is buoyant about Liverpool’s progress.

 "It's the first time this season we've had our goal scorers on the field,” he said. “It gives us great hope."