Is Time Really Running Out for Rodgers at LFC?

Roy Hodgson was never the most popular Liverpool manager, but his legacy seems to be growing with every negative result piling on the current managerial incumbent at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers is now into his fourth season with Liverpool Football Club, yet despite the glorious title challenge in the season before last, the club are no closer to winning the league now than they were when he took over in the summer of 2012.

After two wins from two to start this campaign, a run of five games straight without a win has led to comparisons with the Hodgson era from disgruntled fans, a message that Rodgers really doesn’t want to see. Even the victories over Stoke City and Bournemouth were fortunate results, with a long-range screamer from Philippe Coutinho proving the difference at the Britannia Stadium and Christian Benteke’s winner against the newly promoted club involving offside controversy.

Despite the improved performance at home to Norwich City, a 1-1 draw against a side tipped to be fighting relegation this season will only intensify the pressure surrounding Rodgers.

He needs results, and fast.

Bringing back the 3-4-3 formation at the weekend was a smart move, even if it cannot be relied upon consistently. When you are playing a so-called ‘lesser team’ at home, there should be more emphasis on attack rather than smothering the midfield or bolstering the defence. Away from home, those tactics make more sense – a counter-attacking style of play.

Yet overall, playing three at the back worked on Sunday, with Martin Skrtel certainly looking more comfortable. Emre Can had more time on the ball to spread play all over the pitch, as he has looked rushed at times in midfield, including at the weekend when moved there late on.

Meanwhile, Mamadou Sakho made a welcome first Premier League start and continued the impression felt by many Liverpool fans that he is the best central defender at the club, yet had been ignored by Rodgers in favour of the error-prone Dejan Lovren until this week.

Whilst not his favoured position, Nathaniel Clyne was steady at right wing-back and will always offer defensive solidity with attacking intent, unlike the ultra-offensive Glen Johnson, while on the other side Alberto Moreno was Liverpool’s best player, offering natural width and excelling offensively. Hopefully this can be the start of a consistent run of form for the Spaniard, proving why Liverpool brought the highly-rated left back from Sevilla last summer.

In midfield, Lucas Leiva was also impressive, breaking up several Norwich attacks and producing some sharp forward passing. By contrast, James Milner, despite working hard and being heavily involved, was hapless at the crucial moments, with poor through-balls, corners and a scuffed effort at goal in the first half when the stand-in skipper should have done much better.

Perhaps the armband is weighing down the summer signing from Manchester City, but with Jordan Henderson’s foot injury it looks like Milner will be keeping the captaincy for a while longer so he must improve and set the example, and not just by running constantly to maintain midfield balance.

Whilst it is appreciated, it is not enough when playing for Liverpool – he needs to contribute offensively.

However, that could be stated for most of Liverpool’s attackers.

Coutinho was poor, especially when choking the best opportunity of the match in the second half, and cannot be expected to be world-class in every game. The Brazilian international remains too inconsistent to be considered alongside the very best attacking midfielders of the Premier League, and needs more goals and assists to take himself and Liverpool to the next level.

Roberto Firmino and especially Danny Ings impressed as substitutes, with Ings scoring his first goal for the club, and in superb clinical fashion. Firmino will continue to improve as he builds up his fitness and adjusts to English football, although he needs to play more centrally as the Brazilian is not a winger.

Finally, the partnership between Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge didn’t get off to the best of starts, with Ings offering more runs and threat behind the Norwich defence.

Conversely, Sturridge did well to even start the game, and his match-sharpness will return in time (if he doesn’t get injured first!). Whilst it may never be as electric as the combination with Luis Suarez, Sturridge and Benteke could soon cause serious problems for opposing defences, and bring Liverpool and Rodgers the goals they desperately need.

Benteke cannot remain isolated, with the Reds not playing to his strengths when he has been alone up front this season. With Sturridge, Liverpool have another dimension, and can aim at Benteke for him to flick on to his striking partner instead of simply holding up play as a traditional target-man. Benteke is so much more than that, but needs Sturridge (or even Ings) up front alongside him to ensure he doesn’t go the way of Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli from last season.

Alongside wins, Liverpool have struggled for goals in recent months – they have not scored twice in a match since the 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers in early May, a run of ten straight fixtures in all competitions and a damning statistic for an attack-minded manager such as Rodgers.

Yet what the Northern Irishman will have nightmares about is Liverpool’s disastrous run of form – only four wins from their last fifteen Premier League matches.

Whilst pundits attempt to explain how Liverpool should stick with Rodgers, including Jamie Carragher, many fans have had enough, and feel owners Fenway Sports Group should take advantage of the window of opportunity with Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti. Both are world-class managers, but they will not be around forever.

However, Rodgers is unlikely to be sacked anytime soon, as he was backed heavily in the summer with big-money signings such as Firmino and Benteke (although the net spend overall was low at roughly £20m), despite Klopp and Ancelotti being available and Liverpool’s diabolical end to the season, peaking with the 6-1 loss to Stoke City.

On the other hand, no one’s patience lasts forever, and FSG have certainly been patient with Rodgers (leading to accusations of a lack of ambition from the owners).

Rodgers is in danger of not being remembered by Liverpool fans as the manager who almost led Liverpool to their first Premier League title in nearly a quarter of a century, but as the man who rivalled the current England manager at Anfield.

In order to remain with Liverpool for the long-term, Rodgers needs to find a system and philosophy that suits his players and stick with it.

For the short-term? Win, then keep on winning. Otherwise the long-term plans will not be needed.