Andre Villas-Boas Rules out Rumours He'll Replace Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool

Andre Villas-Boas is the surprise name being linked to Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool job, as the Reds continue to struggle post-Luis Suarez. However, the story appears to have been quashed nearly as soon as it emerged.

Continue for updates.

Tuesday, Dec. 9

Villas-Boas Denies Reds Contact

The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, currently manager of Zenit St Petersburg, gave a brief and blunt reply to the Liverpool rumours on Tuesday. 

Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard quotes AVB saying: "I’m very happy at Zenit. Returning to England is not in my plans.”

Villas-Boas' words do not completely rubbish the claim that Liverpool approached him, made by The Times (h/t Daily Express' Charles Perrin), but they do suggest he will not be replacing Rodgers any time soon.

Sunday, Dec. 7

Villas-Boas Enquiry Reported

Brendan Rodgers hasn't been sacked as manager from Liverpool yet, but that isn't stopping speculation regarding possible replacements. If the latest reports are to be believed, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas is the leading candidate to replace the Northern Irishman.     

The Reds' start to the 2014-15 campaign has been a major disappointment, and the club already sits 15 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Darko Vojinovic/Associated Press

The Fenway Sports Group, the club's owners, have yet to comment on Rodgers' future, but according to The Times (h/t Daily Express' Charles Perrin), they've asked Villas-Boas for details of his coaching methods.

Former Red Danny Murphy insists such claims are ludicrous, claiming AVB would not make the top 20 candidates if Liverpool were to replace Rodgers, per talkSPORT: 

"

Brendan deserves to keep his job. It would be a shock if he does go. If for some reason he does, AVB would not be on the list of 20 managers to replace him at Liverpool, never mind be the number one.

It's ridiculous. He failed at Chelsea, he failed at Tottenham. Why would you take him at Liverpool?

"

The Portuguese manager has Premier League experience, but he is perhaps best remembered in England for flopping at Tottenham. Now with Zenit St. Petersburg, he has revitalised his career and is on course to win this year's Russian Premier League title.

FourFourTwo's James Maw looked at the circumstances surrounding his dismissal from Spurs and realised he was perhaps a bit more successful than people give him credit for:

While it's plausible that Liverpool's ownership are already doing their due diligence on potential replacements for Rodgers, it's far too early to start looking at the future. Villas-Boas also likely wouldn't be the top name on the list, with Jurgen Klopp potentially available.

The Liverpool Echo's Jay Riley doesn't have much faith in the report:

Rodgers is still the man in charge, and he earned enough credit with last season's fantastic run to believe he won't be sacked anytime soon. The Reds are young and inexperienced and have been hit by injuries—it will take time for this squad to grow into a force in English football.

Liverpool's owners knew that when the season started, and things haven't changed.

Follow @ReverschPass