CAN BRENDAN RODGERS REBUILD HIS REPUTATION In ENGLAND?

You could forgive Brendan Rodgers a wry smile when Divock Origi wrapped up Champions League victory for Liverpool in June. Not because it was the Northern Irishman who signed him in 2014, but something bigger: the Reds had finally moved on.

It wasn’t the top-flight title that has eluded them since 1989-90, but it was enough – just reward for a terrific season which has surely put to rest those demons of 2013-14. A mortifying misstep meant it wasn’t to be for Rodgers five years ago – or indeed ever at Liverpool – but all parties have recovered serenely since; the Reds are now a rewired machine under Jurgen Klopp, and Rodgers is back in the Premier League with Leicester after leading Celtic almost all the way to treble-treble glory.

Not that Rodgers was inclined to see that unique achievement through. Only two late-february days separated Leicester pulling the trigger on Claude Puel and replacing him with Rodgers – a surprisingly swift decision on the latter’s part, which infuriated Celtic’s impassioned supporters.

Rodgers himself admitted the manner of his move down south wasn’t perfect. “The ideal time would have been the summer,” he admitted. “But if you remove any emotion, I believe this opportunity to come to a club like Leicester wasn’t going to wait.”

A cynic might suggest the Foxes would have happily seen out a middling campaign to get their man; that Rodgers saw the last three months of the season as a free hit, and ample time to familiarise himself with a new squad ahead of 2019-20. Such a cynic might further say this could be his ticket to another job back at the top table.

Either way, his popular appointment had the desired effects. After Leicester’s dour Puel era, a young squad immediately warmed to Rodgers (“a breath of fresh air,” as midfielder James Maddison told FFT) and won five of their six games after the announcement. There won’t be European football this season, but that will be the realistic aim for 2020-21 as Rodgers aims to mould the Foxes’ exciting bunch into a force made of sterner stuff. Adding players like Youri Tielemans certainly helps.

On paper it’s a fine match. With Arsenal and Chelsea wading through treacle and Manchester United in systematic decline, a top-six finish is not an entirely unrealistic aim. Toppling either would be the perfect way to prove that Brendan is back.