Michael Laudrup did an excellent job at Swansea - Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Michael Laudrup did "an excellent job" at Swansea City, but feels club captain Garry Monk will "inspire the players to improve.

The Dane was sacked on Tuesday after the Swans lost 2-0 at West Ham the previous weekend - their sixth defeat in eight Premier League games.

Rodgers, who managed Swansea for two seasons before becoming manager at Liverpool, says Swansea "are a real special football club", and believes the board would have its reasons for dismissing Laudrup.