Intro:

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers discusses Philippe Coutinho and possible UEFA Champions League qualification from a news conference on Monday (2nd March).

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager (on whether Philippe Coutinho will be player of the season):

"He is certainly going to be up there - there's no doubt about that. He has played very well. I think that period the team suffered at the start of the season, with our lack of penetration at the top of the field - he is the player that thrives on that. He is normally the player that makes the last pass for those players running in to score the goals. We didn't quite have that in the opening months. He had to stay longer on the ball and wasn't as effective, but now the dynamics in the team are very good, with the pressing and the movement off the ball. That allows him and his technical quality to really shine and he is starting to add goals to his game, and scoring some fantastic goals. Very importantly, he is contributing to the team and there are still improvements to make from someone so young."

SOUNDBITE (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager (on a top-four finish):

"I think so. It's all tight. You look at the numbers and Chelsea are a little bit out in front. But for us, we are focussing on arriving in that. It's always been the objective. We are seven points behind Manchester City now. And, with the games to come, we are hopeful that we can finish as high as we can. We want to keep chasing right to the very end and our season won't end until the very last whistle goes. So our focus is to perform and as long as we are in the top four then that's what is important to us."