Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers expects his side to find their peak performance level in the second half of the campaign after his summer signings have settled in. "I think they naturally do that, I think that is part of the process here," Rodgers said of the way his senior players spread the load.
"We are about the team and we will attack and defend, win and lose as a team, but with the new players coming in it does take a bit of time - but it is not an excuse.
"While you are letting the players settle you need to win matches."
"There's no magic formula, it's just constant work on the training field," added Rodgers, ahead of the trip to West Ham.
"I remember this time last year, we were sat in press conferences and the questions I was getting asked were about whether we were going to be able to score goals. We ended up with 101 goals.
"It's just time and patience with players. The way we were playing in March, April and May last season we weren't playing that way last September. It'll be the same this year.
"I've always said by the time the second part of the season comes, we'll always be stronger and better.
"The Tottenham game we were outstanding but had a poor international break because we lost a number of our players and that upset our rhythm a bit coming into the Villa game (a 1-0 defeat last weekend), where we had to change our structure.
"Against Aston Villa, we weren't at our level in the final third. They defended well and got the result, but we moved on from that.
"We've got players adapting to a different country, not just a new team, so naturally that takes that little bit more time.
"I've been really pleased with how the players have settled in and experience tells me they'll get better."
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