Brendan Rodgers just cannot seem to get a break, even after starting well in the first three games of the season; he didn’t have a lot of backing from the pundits and Liverpool supporters. Many believed he was lucky that the team were unbeaten after the first two games and their failings were for all to see during the 3-0 home loss to a well-drilled and brilliant West Ham United side.
Liverpool’s defence and attack both failed to do much in the game and their so called midfield didn’t even turn up for the game. Liverpool’s manager started the season under a lot of pressure after the debacle that was the season prior to that, Liverpool whimpered home in 6th place and didn’t do much in their return to the UEFA Champions League either, despite investing a lot in their squad, even though they sold Luis Suarez, they still had the time and money to invest wisely which they didn’t.
A new dawn, a new day?
This season, Rodgers was given the backing of the Liverpool board and he even had a role in getting some of the players into the team. The prior scenario always was related to a transfer committee picking out the players who Liverpool would sign, Rodgers had a greater say this time around and most of the players he has signed have started for the Reds.
Benteke, Milner, Gomez and Clyne have been playing regularly since the start of the season but more than that it is the style of play that hasn’t been that pleasing on the eye. The big money signing of Benteke is yet to take off but he does look like a pretty decent buy, the big question actually is on the form of two Brazilians. Coutinho and Firmino have to start delivering which could help take some pressure off the Liverpool boss.
The problem isn’t just with a couple of players, it is with Rodgers as well, he doesn’t know what his best squad is at the moment and some of his decision making has left the Liverpool supporters scratching their heads. Granted Dejan Lovren started this season well, he shouldn’t be Liverpool’s first choice defender when they have Mamadou Sakho sitting on the bench for no reason whatsoever. The same can be said about the purchases the club have made over the Rodgers era, most of them have not clicked and that has heaped pressure on the Northern Irishman.
Rodgers has just this season to get his Liverpool career back on track. He has one goal right now and that is to somehow get into the Champions League, if he is anywhere near that position till December then Rodgers should stay at the club but it seems unlikely that he will survive the season.
Liverpool need a more robust, vocal and dynamic manager. The fact that Jurgen Klopp is waiting in the wings does not bode well for Rodgers. Unless he gets the team playing in the way they were with Suarez in the team, it could all be over for Rodgers pretty soon. Sometimes you have to make a tough decision and this could lead to Rodgers losing out on his position at Liverpool, he still can save his job though and that means Liverpool have to qualify for the Champions League.