Rush said: "Talk of this season having been a failure for Liverpool is wide of the mark. The Reds may have suffered the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Champions League but the merits of a campaign should be judged on silverware.
"The League may not have gone as well as many hoped for Liverpool, but the Worthington Cup was won in impressive style. This season's final league placing can be described as a blip. But still Gerard Houllier's side claimed silverware. And I am sure that if it had come down to a choice between Champions League qualification and winning the Worthington Cup by beating Manchester United in the final, the players would have opted for the cup.
"Missing the Champions League has deprived Liverpool of cash and the players of the chance to face Europe's top clubs. But it means the focus next season will be purely on the Premier League.
"With a few astute summer signings added to the talent already in place, a serious championship bid is sure to follow."