Brendan Rodgers' job was already on the line after the club's embarrassing performance last season with Liverpool. However, club owners FSG backed him and gave him another bank balance to help the team click this season. But, FSG, who lost patience after a below par start to the English Premier League campaign, drew curtains on Rodgers' three-and-half year trophyless Reds career on Sunday.
Though the Northern Irishman, of all the Liverpool managers in the Premier League era, might have been the closest to winning the Premier League, it wasn'tt enough for him to survive the dreadful axe. Sadly, his only highlight as a Reds manager was the 2013/14 season, when he came so close to winning the title.
However, it is time to move on for the club, who are already said to have started talks with one of the best available managers -- Jurgen Klopp.
Though there are other top contenders like Carlo Ancelotti for the post, the new boss has a daunting task at hand with the current team struggling for identity. Liverpool, of late, and also last season, looked a team in a state of confusion with players being asked to play out of position, while changing tactics did not bear fruit. Rather, it cost Rodgers his job.
Twitter and other similar social networking sites have selected their manager -- Klopp for Kop – and according to media reports as well, the German is said to be the leading contender. If things go according to plan, Liverpool should sign Klopp in the next few days, and it could be a perfect marriage.
There are plenty of reasons for one to believe why FSG are interested in Klopp, who is presently on a sabbatical after quitting Borussia Dortmund last season, having stated his desire to manage a Premier League club.
Klopp, during his days with Dortmund, showed his man-management skills by bringing the best out of youngsters, and the present Liverpool team do have a number of similar talented players, be that Emre Can, Divock Origi or Jordan Ibe. Look at Robert Lewandowski -- one of the most feared strikers in the world right now -- and he learned the tricks of the trade under Klopp at Dortmund.
Such success might have attracted FSG, who want the team to develop young players as well.
FSG should not expect titles from the new manager straight away, but an entertaining brand of football which had made Anfield a fortress in the past is what one can look forward to. Liverpool last won the domestic league title in 1989-90.
However, Klopp is no stranger to clubs looking to bring back their glory days. In 2008, Klopp joined Dortmund, who had then last won the Bundesliga in the 2001-02 season. Dortmund soon became one of the most beautiful teams to watch in the Bundesliga during his tenure and also challenged in the Champions League.
Klopp, after two years of joining the club, helped Dortmund win back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. It is such results, which must have prompted FSG to sack Rodgers and go for Klopp, who could also be on the radar of other top clubs such as Chelsea. With the Blues under-performing and their manager Jose Mourinho also talking about the "sack", FSG were also aware of the possibility of another club poaching the current available managerial talent.
Rodgers always failed to attract the big names of world football, while quite a few of the players he bought could not deliver. However, with Klopp being a box-office manager, he has a greater chance of signing marquee players than the Northern Irishman. Apart from signing new players, he could also hold onto other special young talents in the club, who can be a huge prospect in the future.
The current Liverpool team have always looked a dangerous unit when they press high, and Klopp's leadership should really work well amongst the current set of Liverpool players, who love to charge at the opponents. Apart from FSG, passionate Liverpool fans could also enjoy his spell with the club, as the German has always had a great relationship with the fans, who still adore him for his accomplishments and the high energy levels.
Though Ancelotti and Frank de Boer are also contenders for the same post, Klopp is the favourite and the ideal manager to take Liverpool forward.
