2. Time is of the essence for Rodgers
12 months ago, Brendan Rodgers came within touching distance of becoming the first Liverpool manager to win the Premier League. While he had to settle for second place and the League Managers Association Manager of the Year award, Rodgers’ stock couldn’t be higher. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge were scoring goals for fun and the Reds were blowing teams away early in the game.
But just a year on, not only are Liverpool once again going to finish outside the top four, the Northern Irishman is also starting to feel the pressure of three years without a trophy with the Reds. 15 minutes before kickoff, there was a plane above Anfield with a banner reading “Rodgers Out Rafa In.” While the banner wasn’t organized by the main supporters’ group, the fact that there are a few disgruntled fans who want him out is a stark contrast to a year ago, when he was being lauded for the fantastic job he has done. While winning the last three games against Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Stoke isn’t going to change the perception of the few who arranged for the banner, it might well be enough to appease the owners and the majority of the fans, if they can finish the season on a high as close to fourth place as possible.