Liverpool FC History - 2012 to 2015
As much as we all love Kenny Dalglish and despite King Kenny leading Liverpool to Wembley and ultimately to their first trophy for six years, he was sacked as Liverpool manager in the summer of 2012. To many it was unjust, to many it was not unexpected.
Several names were in the frame from the outset but ultimately the Liverpool board chose the Swansea manager, Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers. In some ways it was a surprise selection because of his relative inexperience, but everyone in football recognises his qualities and his potential to become a really top manager. After all, every manager has to start their path to success somewhere.
Jose Mourinho didn't just fall into football management with a glowing track record did he. He had to earn it and in fairness he has gone on to become one of the top modern day managers. We at Fields Of Anfield Road hope that Brendan Rodgers goes on to become a successful manager and that success commences very soon at Liverpool FC.
As time goes by and the new manager and the relatively new owners stamp their own styles and management philosophies on the club, it is expected that the club will adopt some new principles in that we will look to recruit younger players with plenty of potential, who will in time also have a good sell-on value.
Although it is very early days of Brendan Rodgers, he has already significantly given youth a chance by blooding some of the clubs quality youngsters from the reserves. Already the likes of Andre Wisdom, Raheem Sterling, Fernandez Suso, Adam Morgan to name just a few, have appeared on a regular basis in the first team. There are plenty more knocking on the door as Brendan Rodgers revamps the side.
As well as the youngsters already at the club, Rodgers has also signed some top quality, established Premier League and Serie A youngsters who should be around for several years to come - namely, Daniel Sturridge, signed from Chelsea, Fabio Borini and Philippe Coutinho signed from Serie A in Italy and Joe Allen from his former club, Swansea.
Let us hope that the future is bright and the future is Red and we will soon see the glory days return to the Fields Of Anfield Road.
Update - A Snapshot Of Brendan Rodgers Anfield Career - June 2012 to October 2015
Unfortunately for Brendan Rodgers things did not go quite according to plan. Having said that he did become the one Liverpool manager who came the closest to ending Liverpol's barren run of trying to add to their 18 League titles.
The 2013/14 season saw Liverpool come very, very close to lifting the Premier League title. In fact some may say that, having been in the driving seat for such long periods, Liverpool lost the title. That doesn't seem fair on Manchester City though as they obviously still had to win their own games. And win them they did. The season though did see Liverpool play some really scintillating football. The whole team were on fire in an attacking sense. The fulchrum of the attacking prowess was the SAS. A deadly attacking combination Suarez and Sturridge. Plenty of goals flowed.
As the season entered April, Liverpool were favourites to claim the title but in the run-in, they squandered points against both Chelsea (lost 2-0 at home) and Crystal Palace (a 3-3 draw away from home). Many criticised Liverpool's approach to these games. At home to Chelsea for instance, Liverpool did not necessarily need to win at that stage of the season. However, Liverpool poured forward in their typical cavalier style and caught twice on the break by a well drilled, but quite boring, Chelsea.
The 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace was even more bizarre. Liverpool were 3-0 ahead with about 11 minutes to go. Once they conceded the first goal they just imploded and had to hold on for a 3-3 draw in the end. Manchester City won the title by two points, so arguably a more conservative approach against Chelsea where a draw would have been sufficient and "shutting up shop" when 3-0 up against Crystal Palace would have been enough for Liverpool to be crowned champions. Whatever the reasons, it wasn't to be. But they did come so close.
The following 2014/15 season was the beginning of the end for Rodgers. Liverpool limped out of the Champions League Group stages after managing only a draw against Basle in their final Group match. They did reach the FA Cup Semi Final against Aston Villa and in fact took the lead through Philippe Coutinho in the first half. However, that was the only highlight of the game for Liverpool as another dismal performance ultimately saw them lose 2-1.
The League campaign ended in spectacular fashion though as Liverpool got well and truly hammered 6-1 at Stoke City in the final game of the season. Liverpool finished sixth in the League.
Many observers thought Rodgers should have been relieved of his duties then, but the Liverpool owners backed him and so entered the 2015/16 season with him still at the helm. A disappointing start to the campaign saw the pressure really mount on Rodgers. By October 2015, Rodgers was on thin ice. To the extent that on 4th October after a 1-1 draw away at Everton, Rodgers was finally relieved of his duties.
For those lucky enough to witness the scintillating football during that 2013/14 season will always remember how good it was to watch Liverpool. Hopefully, that style of football will be recognised as Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool legacy. Best of luck Brendan in your future career. Thanks for all your great efforts and dedication.
Links To Other Liverpool FC History Pages
And Other Pages Of Interest
Liverpool FC History - At a Glance - Click Here
Liverpool FC History - 1892 to 1974 - Click here
Liverpool FC History - 1974 to 1991 - Click Here
Liverpool FC History - 1991 to 2012 - Click Here
Fields Of Anfield Road - Home - Click Here
Fields Of Anfield Road - Blog - Click Here
