Andre Villas-Boas to Liverpool Rumours Slammed by Danny Murphy

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has rubbished speculation suggesting Andre Villas-Boas could replace Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.

Murphy spoke on talkSPORT's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show, suggesting AVB doesn't have the Premier League credentials to take over at Anfield:

"

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?

"

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The Fenway Sports Group, the Reds' owners, have reportedly sought Villas-Boas out to discuss his coaching methods, per The Times (h/t Charles Perrin of the Daily Express). FSG are "weighing up their options," according to Perrin, with Rodgers coming under pressure after the side's poor start to the season.

Liverpool are five points outside the Champions League places, having played an extra game over fourth-place Southampton.

Saturday's 0-0 draw with lowly Sunderland summed up the Reds' campaign, in which they've looked slow, ponderous and devoid of match-winning quality. This is a world away from their thrilling run to second last term, as noted by Squawka:

Rodgers has certainly made a number of strange tactical calls, but he's not the sole problem. The Northern Irishman's decision to continue playing a hapless Mario Balotelli, who is yet to score a Premier League goal this season, appeared ill-considered before the Italian's injury.

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Both Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho have been dropped when their side needed them most, while Glen Johnson's appearances at left-back are questionable. Rodgers gave the final say to signings who have largely failed to impress, but a switch of manager isn't the answer. Rodgers proved himself a shrewd tactician last year.

Villas-Boas' Premier League tenures with Chelsea and Spurs were riddled with difficult media relationships, the inability to find a dominant playing style and a struggle to get the best out of star players.

Spurs spent in excess of £100 million in an effort to replace Gareth Bale, a situation Liverpool emulated (with lesser costs) to make up for Luis Suarez's departure in the summer. Rodgers has inadvertently fallen into the same trap as AVB and is yet to successfully integrate the new crowd.

The difference is, this Liverpool side are built in his image, something Spurs couldn't boast under Villas-Boas.

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As Murphy's comments suggest, it would make little sense for the Portuguese manager to be handed another opportunity in England so soon. Granted, Villas-Boas' Zenit Saint Petersburg side are seven points clear in the Russian top flight, but the Premier League is a far more challenging division to conquer.

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore recently outlined the moves Rodgers must make in January to ensure his side tighten up, as told to B/R UK's Ryan Bailey:

On the bright side, Liverpool are one win away from making the knockout stages of the Champions League. They could also surpass Bournemouth to reach the semi-final of the Capital One Cup, while a busy run of Christmas fixtures could see Rodgers' men cut the gap on the Premier League's top four.

Plenty of prospective successes await despite the club's stuttering form.

Rodgers deserves backing after the team's heroics last year. As Chelsea and Spurs proved with the hire of Villas-Boas, change doesn't necessarily result in greater success.