Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hopes for the all-clear in January to spend big. Rodgers insists that ­principal owner John W Henry and his Fenway Sports Group are aware of Liverpool's limitations.

Rodgers said: "I've had good conversations with the owners and they ­understand where we are at as a team at the moment.

"If we can get our best 11 players on the pitch then our team is comparable to any team in the league."