Liverpool vs. Blackburn: Key Brendan Rodgers Comments from Pre-Match Presser

Finishing in the top four and guaranteeing participation in the UEFA Champions League won't be enough for Liverpool to enjoy a successful season. That's according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who's also targeting winning the FA Cup.

That will require two trips to Wembley, one of which Rodgers believes cheapens the competition. The Anfield gaffer was speaking ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

Rodgers spelled out what will constitute success for the Reds this season, per BBC Sport reporter Juliette Ferrington:

Rodgers was keen to stress the emphasis on a trophy is just the next natural step in the work he's doing at Liverpool, according to Liverpool Echo reporter James Pearce:

Rodgers may be inadvertently applying unwanted pressure on the FA Cup chase following two seasons without silverware, especially when there are potentially three matches left to play.

He'll also know that fellow Premier League big guns, hated rivals Manchester United and holders Arsenal, are still in the competition. But one of them won't be able to say that after their last-eight meeting at Old Trafford ahead of the semi-final stage.

Speaking of the semi-final, Rodgers is not a fan of playing it at the same venue as the final:

Rodgers would likely find many supporters of that view, even if a trip to the country's premier stadium is nothing to be sneezed at. But many football fans will have memories of rip-roaring semi-finals played out at venues such as Villa Park and Old Trafford.

Rodgers is right that keeping the showpiece venue for the showpiece game enhances the spectacle and prestige. Yet his comments about anything semi-final-related could be read as presumptuous, or even downright insulting, by Rovers players.

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Rodgers' men will be favourites at Anfield given their fine run of form in 2015. But this is the cup, meaning an upset is never too far away.

Rovers know that better than most. They knocked Arsenal out after beating the Gunners 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium in 2013.

Rodgers must guard against a similar letdown. He was at least complimentary about his opposite number ahead of the game:

Rodgers also had plenty to say about in-form midfielder Jordan Henderson. In particular, he moved to slap down comparisons between the 24-year-old and outgoing club legend Steven Gerrard.

Rodgers seemed to suggest the comparison is a rather lazy one:

He also feels it's potentially damaging to Henderson's development:

It's hard to disagree with the manager in this case. Gerrard's shadow will loom large over the next generation of Liverpool midfielders.

No player is going to find that an easy comparison to live up to. In fact, many will buckle under the weight of expectation.

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It's been the same way with the club's trophy-laden past. Its standards have been too much for successive teams to recreate for over two decades.

Rodgers at least feels confident his latest group is good enough to add to the club's decorated history.