Brendan Rodgers: 'Liverpool face a fight to qualify for 2015-16 Champions League'

Brendan Rodgers has said that Liverpool have a "fight" on their hands to qualify for next season's Champions League.

The Northern Irishman was speaking in the aftermath of his side's elimination from this year's competition following a 1-1 draw at home to Basel, which was not enough to seal progression to the last 16.

"We have to fight going forward to be in this competition next season," he told ITV Sport after the final whistle. "We are not too far off the top four and, if we get there, we will be better in it next season.

"The possibility of January signings is something to discuss with the owners, but there was a big investment in the summer.

"We have been unlucky with injuries to key players who are important to the way that we play, but that is to take nothing away from the players tonight who have put everything into the game."

Liverpool won just one of their six Group B games, which came courtesy of a last-minute Steven Gerrard penalty in a 2-1 home win over Ludogorets Razgrad.