Brendan Rodgers: Reasons for and Against Liverpool Sacking Their Manager
Should Liverpool sack manager Brendan Rodgers? There are many reasons for and against the idea.
An alarming descent in form since the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer has seen the Reds crash out of the Champions League, as well as stutter on the domestic stage.
Liverpool sit in 11th place in the Premier League prior to this weekend's fixtures, seven points off fourth-placed West Ham United.
Rodgers himself noted at the end of November how he was "favourite to get the sack," per BBC Sport, although the manager added positively how this was "part and parcel of this wonderful life of working in football."
Here, we take a look at why Liverpool should and shouldn't relieve their manager of his duties this season, with three reasons for each.
We'll round off by examining his approach toward personnel and giving our overall verdict, but what else makes the list of for and against Liverpool sacking Rodgers?
For: This Season's Results
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Back in November, Rodgers underlined how "any manager will tell you, you have to win games and you have to get results," per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.
Fundamentally, Liverpool's results this season have not been good enough for a team of their stature, and this would surely be the main factor behind owners Fenway Sports Group assessing Rodgers' future.
Heavy losses to Manchester United, Real Madrid and Manchester City may go against the manager, but it is in his side's failure to gain results against the likes of West Ham United, Aston Villa, Hull City, Sunderland and PFC Ludogorets Razgrad that is truly alarming.
In a results-based game, this is a significant reason for sacking Rodgers.
Against: Last Season's Proven Potential
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However, despite this, with Rodgers the cliche "form is temporary, class is permanent" could be considered.
Last season, Liverpool finished second in the league, scoring 101 goals along the way.
While much of this can be attributed to the 31 goals and 12 assists of Suarez, Liverpool were still capable of winning without the maverick forward, and Rodgers deserves a huge amount of credit for this.
Rodgers should gain a fair amount of leeway due to the phenomenal performances he helped deliver in the Premier League with Liverpool last season.
For: Bizarre Team Selections
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While Rodgers based last-season's success on an in-form core of Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Suarez, this term his team selections have often bemused the Liverpool faithful.
Players such as Dejan Lovren, Glen Johnson, Simon Mignolet and Gerrard himself have seemed impervious to criticism from the manager, even though their form has plummeted.
Furthermore, when it has come to dropping out-of-form players, this has often come at too late a juncture, such as his recent omission of Mignolet for "an indefinite period," per BBC Sport, despite the goalkeeper being seemingly past his worst form in a Reds shirt.
This season's core is a much less daunting prospect, and Rodgers seems late to realise this.
Against: Injuries
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This core would be strengthened significantly, however, by Liverpool's star striker, Sturridge, and this points to a reason why FSG should hold off on producing Rodgers' P45 this season.
A series of thigh and calf injuries, as documented by the Liverpool Echo, have hampered Sturridge's involvement—the 25-year-old has made just three league appearances this season.
With a return of 21 goals in the league last season as evidence, Sturridge has been missed considerably.
Elsewhere, injuries to Mamadou Sakho, Jon Flanagan, Emre Can and Adam Lallana have also affected Liverpool's momentum, and Rodgers should be considered unlucky that this is the case.
For: Signings
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Sturridge's injury history is not a secret however, and a reason for sacking Rodgers could be in his failure to accommodate for this in the transfer market.
Overall, Rodgers' signings throughout his Liverpool tenure have left a lot to be desired.
BBC Sport pundit Robbie Savage recently documented his managerial transfer-market failures and, although the former Leicester City midfielder is misguided in some of his judgements, it is stark how big-money signings such as Fabio Borini, Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto and Lovren have disappointed.
Lovren is a particularly frustrating signing, given how his position of centre-back was highlighted as a key area for reinforcement despite the imperious Sakho remaining in the squad.
Rodgers has now spent a total of £212 million on transfers, per LFCHistory.net, with little gain, and this is a huge reason to consider his future.
Against: Developmental Success
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For all of this failures in the transfer market however, FSG should be heartened that they possess one of the best developmental managers in the Premier League.
The main case for consideration here is Sterling, who has developed into one of Liverpool's most important players under Rodgers, and has recently been awarded the 2014 European Golden Boy prize, per LiverpoolFC.com.
Sterling is joined by Henderson, a player who has risen from mediocre performer to Liverpool vice-captain with Rodgers' guidance.
Both Sterling and Henderson have become England regulars since Rodgers' intervention.
Elsewhere, Flanagan—another success story under the manager—has also made his international debut.
Rodgers has a knack for harnessing potential, and given that FSG "want to invest in youth," per the Liverpool Echo, this should be a considerable factor in their commitment to the Ulsterman.
The Verdict
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For us, Rodgers' position on Merseyside is safe—for now at least.
Mitigating factors such as Sturridge's injury, Rodgers' ability to gauge and nurture potential in youth players and last season's success go in his favour.
Furthermore, as shown recently, Liverpool are not without hope this season, and a switch to a 3-4-3 formation and a subsequent upturn in performances against the likes of United and AFC Bournemouth may point to a change in fortunes for the Reds.
Stipulations for his continuation however, such as relenting to the advice of a Director of Football in the transfer market, should be considered in moving forward.
Rodgers' future should be at Liverpool, but FSG should be outlining ways to improve under the manager.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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