Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Liverpool to give Brendan Rodgers the time he needs to succeed at Anfield.

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Liverpool to give Brendan Rodgers the time he needs to succeed at Anfield.

Sir Alex Ferguson: 'It's a results business'

Rodgers has yet to win a league game as, for the first time in 101 years, Liverpool have not been victorious in any of their opening four league fixtures.

Ferguson took three and a half years to win his first trophy at Old Trafford following his appointment in 1986. His first league title did not come until his seventh season at United, and the 70-year-old believes the climate in football has changed during his time at the club.

As Liverpool prepare to take on Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, Ferguson said he hopes 39-year-old Rodgers, the club's fourth manager since 2010, is shown the same patience.

"He is a young manager, and any young manager needs time," he said. "In the modern world, you don't get that. The only route for any manager is success. It's a results industry. There was less pressure when I started, but the world has changed, the press has changed."

Ferguson has told his players not to be distracted by off-field events as United look for their first win at Anfield since 2007.

The build-up has included pleas from the manager for United supporters to stop anti-Liverpool chants as the two clubs look to pay tribute to the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

"We've given a lot of messages from Manchester United," the Scot said. "It's an important game for both clubs.

"It's possible everything around the game could affect the players and the game, but hopefully we can concentrate on a good match. We want to try and achieve a good performance and result."