Rodgers was speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash between the two clubs, with Liverpool currently second in the table and United sixth.
A win for Liverpool would leave United 14 points adrift of their rivals, while the Red Devils could be as far as 12 points outside the top four with just nine games to play.
That would make David Moyes' task of qualifying for the Champions League almost impossible in his first season at United and make the rebuilding job that is ahead of him and the club even more difficult, according to Rodgers.
"We still have a lot of work to get in to the Champions League," he told various national newspapers, according to the Press Association.
"But when you're not in it, even though this club is a worldwide, monumental club, we found it difficult because the best players want to play in the best competitions.
"This was Liverpool and we weren't in the Champions League. In order to get in some of the type of players we want, that's where we need to be and we're trying to be.
"Any club will suffer the same when they're not in there. There is no doubt it will hurt you, but they (United) will know that."
Liverpool won the Champions League title in 2005 but have not won the English top flight since 1990 and Rodgers has warned that United could face a similar drought after dominating English football for two decades.
"We were talking about the great Liverpool teams -- one year becomes two and then all of a sudden it was 20 years since they won the title," he added.
"It can get away from you very quickly. It's our focus and drive to arrive back (in the Champions League). We have a long way to go but have shown great potential to be in there.
"I believe if we can get to that level then it gives us a massive advantage as a club."
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