McDermott: Rodgers will succeed

McDermott succeeded Rodgers as Royals manager in 2009 and the knows the 39-year-old well from their time together at the club's academy.

Reading travel to Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday hoping to ensure the challenging start to Rodgers' Liverpool reign continues.

But McDermott is convinced Rodgers' fortunes will change after earning the right to manage the Reds.

"I'm sure he will succeed. It's a fantastic story if you think about it, what he's actually done and where he's got to," he said.

"It's a great story for any aspiring young coach to see where he's ended up.

"And he's done a lot of work over the years, he's worked with the young kids here.

"Absolutely he deserves to be at Liverpool. He deserves to be there because he's there.

"And what he did at Swansea - they played some fantastic football in the league.

"Now it's another big, big challenge for him at Liverpool."

McDermott attended Liver pool's goalless draw with Stoke nearly two weeks ago in preparation for Saturday's clash.

"I just went to watch the game. I went up there in the morning and just came straight back. It was a bit like my scouting days," McDermott said.

"Look, we don't speak. I spoke to him at the LMA do when we saw each other this summer. But we'll have a drink after the game."

A 5-2 drubbing of Norwich is Liverpool's only victory in seven Premier League games, while Reading are searching for their first win of the campaign.

"You need time. Brendan's philosophy is his philosophy and his players have to get used to the way he wants them to play," said McDermott.

"They've played some good football at times and in Luis Suarez they have a world class player who we have to be aware of.

"In our last three games we've been in winning positions so what we need to do is finish the job off.

"Going anywhere in this league is a big challenge and a big oppo rtunity so we just want to make sure we enjoy every moment of it and put on a performance."