Brendan Rodgers happy with "big three points" for Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised his side after they secured a "big three points" against Burnley on Boxing Day.

Raheem Sterling got the game's only goal as Liverpool secured a 1-0 win over the Clarets at Turf Moor.

After the game, Rodgers told BBC Sport: "We knew coming into the game this was going to be tough. Burnley work so hard, they're very well organised and they go from the first whistle to the last. Our football wasn't as fluent as it could have been but we've kept a clean sheet, won the game and it's a big three points for us.

"We defended well in the first half but didn't play well. We needed to show a bit more composure from behind. I brought Emre Can on and I thought he was outstanding.

"Brad Jones got a knock on his thigh and he felt it with his first kick and couldn't continue. Simon Mignolet came in and took a few good crosses. It's good for his confidence that he went on to keep a clean sheet. It's been well documented that we've not been at the level we'd like, but I feel we have been improving in the last few weeks."

Next up for Liverpool is a game against Swansea City on Monday.