KLOPP’S KEEN ON LIVERPOOL
Pressure mounts on boss Rodgers
BRENDAN Rodgers has seen his position become even more vulnerable after Jurgen Klopp signalled his desire to end his sabbatical and manage in England.
After Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday that Carlo Ancelotti had been sounded out by Fenway Sports Group about replacing Rodgers as Liverpool boss, Klopp has let it be known he is ready to start working once more.
Klopp, the charismatic German, has long been the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Rodgers and would be the choice of many Liverpool fans, if and when FSG decide to end the 42-year-old’s spell in charge.
Though Klopp has not made any public comment, it is understood he would relish the opportunity to revive Liverpool’s ailing fortunes, but as yet there has been no contact between FSG and Klopp’s advisers.
Rodgers, whose side scraped through their Capital One Cup tie with Carlisle on penalties, returned to work as normal yesterday and was the last senior member of the coaching staff to leave their Melwood base shortly before 6pm.
Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s chief executive, had spent part of the afternoon at Melwood — he has an office there, as well one in the city centre — but that was not an indication that Rodgers was about to receive the news that FSG want to go in a different direction. Indeed, Liverpool insist Rodgers is going nowhere.
John W Henry and Tom Werner remain the best-known FSG members but the decision on Rodgers’ future will be taken by FSG president Mike Gordon, who conducted the end-of-season review in June in which Rodgers was given a reprieve.
Many will wonder why FSG would be prepared to act now, given there seemed to be a natural opportunity to make a break after Liverpool were thrashed 6-1 by Stoke on the final day of last season and £80million was invested on new players in the summer.
Rodgers will be without the two men who took up 75 per cent of that expenditure against Aston Villa tomorrow — Christian Benteke, the £32.5m striker, has damaged his hamstring and £29m Brazil star Roberto Firmino has injured his back.
It is doubtful whether a win will do anything for Rodgers’ prospects but Danny Ings, whose displays against Norwich and Carlisle have endeared him to the Kop, believes it is crucial that the squad accept the pressure that is on them.
‘The expectation is a lot greater at a club like Liverpool than where I have come from, but I find that a real positive,’ said Ings, who volunteered to take the fifth penalty in the shootout with Carlisle. ‘I use it as a fuel to motivate myself to do well for the fans, the staff, the manager and I’m sure the other players feel exactly the same way.
‘We’ve gone through a sticky patch as a team and it is just important for us now to start winning games and go on a run.’