Liverpool legend Ian Rush is adamant that Brendan Rodgers will be a success at Anfield

Liverpool legend Ian Rush is adamant that Brendan Rodgers will be a success at Anfield if he is given time.

Having enjoyed a distinguished playing career at Liverpool, Ian Rush now works as a club ambassador

Rodgers replaced Kenny Dalglish as manager in June but has failed to win any of his first four league games at the Reds helm.

Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland has left Liverpool with two points from a possible 12, their worst start to a season since 1911.

But Rush, who won five league titles during two spells at the club in the 1980s and 1990s, sees signs that Rodgers is starting to pull things together.

"Rodgers did a fantastic job while at the helm at Swansea and showed massive potential that persuaded the Liverpool powerbrokers to hand him the job," Rush told the Daily Star Sunday.

"But to expect him to come in and conjure up a world-beating outfit within a few months of his arrival is totally unrealistic.

"Yes, we have not had the best of starts to the Premier League campaign including a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal - and we even wobbled a bit in the Europa League against unfancied Hearts. Yet I still back Rodgers to make a fist of it on Merseyside.

"He would have taken the positives out of matches that Liverpool didn't win and you can learn a hell of a lot about your players from defeat. And let's not forget, any one club does not have a God-given right to be constantly at the top of the pile."

Rush believes that Rodgers can mould his side into contenders for Champions League qualification, despite being short of strikers following Andy Carroll's departure to West Ham on a season's loan.

He added: "I see Liverpool coming good and, realistically, they can set their sights on challenging for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

"To achieve that, they have to get the better of the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton and Newcastle over the course of the next eight months - because they will be fighting tooth and nail to claim that right, too.

"I know they can do it, and with a bit of belief, you'll be amazed at what you can do. Rodgers knows this and that's why I remain confident he can do the job and do it well."