With rumors intensifying that Liverpool FC are on the verge of sacking manager Brendan Rodgers, we look at three candidates that can be targeted by the Merseyside outift.
Liverpool endured a poor 2014-15 season, following the departure of talisman Luis Suarez and injury to his partner Daniel Sturridge. With the pair having notched up in excess of 50 league goals, Liverpool failed to replace them following a disastrous transfer window in which they spent in excess of 120m GBP.
The result was they finished a disappointing sixth in the table and the season ended with an embarrassing 6-1 loss to Stoke City that left manager Brendan Rodgers’ future in the balance.
However, the owners decided to give the manager a bigger say in the transfer market realizing the folly of the last window was a major reason for the poor season.
Having trusted the manager to again renew the squad at Liverpool, the start of the new season has not only been disappointing, the manner of losses has been a big issue with fans losing the belief in the system, or lack of it, at Livepool FC.
With the lowly Carlisle holding Liverpool FC to a 1-1 draw for 120 minutes at Anfield, rumours are now starting to emerge about Rodgers’ sacking.
We look at three candidates that the club should be targeting to improve their performances.
1 – Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world and some of the biggest players. He had the star-studded Milan side that consisted of Nesta, Maldini, Kaka, Seedorf and Pirlo among others. He won the European Cup twice with the side. At Chelsea he won the league in stunning style, playing some breathtaking football with a side that consisted of the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Terry etc. His PSG side had Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva etc. At Real Madrid, he won them their tenth European Cup in a side that included the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Ramos etc.
The pedigree is there. The ability to attract good talents too, something lacking in the current Liverpool FC manager.
That being said, Ancelotti’s record in the league is not the greatest with him having won just three leagues between 1999 to 2015 despite having managed Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea FC, PSG and Real Madrid during the time. One of the league wins is with PSG. And without under-rating that achievement, PSG were the kings in a league in which no one could match their squad even if they put out a completely second-string side.
2 – Jurgen Klopp
Having led Borussia Dortmund to two league wins and one Champions League finale, Klopp somewhat spoiled his pedigree with a disastrous final season in which the Bundesliga giants were at the bottom of the table, once. Klopp ‘resigned’ and towards the end of last season, has been heavily linked to a move to Liverpool FC.
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Klopp had a sketchy record prior to taking over Dortmund. He got Mainz promoted and even in to the UEFA Cup, however, at the end of the 2006a 07 season, Mainz 05 were relegated and the following season, Klopp resigned after failing to help them get back.
He is a manager who was a perfect fit for a well-run club that Dortmund was and his agent himself was quoted saying that the manager wants to work in a system where he does the job on the pitch and the other aspects of the club is looked after by someone else, a model FSG did want to replicate but Rodgers had refused. He could be an interesting choice, but given that Liverpool FC themselves do not have a great structure in place, it is a must they sort it out before going for the German.
3 – Gary Monk
Monk has been superb for Swansea City since taking over the reigns from Michael Laudrup. While he has himself admitted that he has been influenced a lot by Rodgers himself, whom he consults often, the manager will be a lesser experienced version of Rodgers to an extent. While it does not make much sense to let go off Rodgers for Monk, Monk will be able to bring in fresh ideas and outlook at Anfield.
However, he does remain an outsider and it is unlikely that Liverpool FC will go for him. Still remains a candidate, though.