On The Ball | Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers returns to Anfield – the last thing Liverpool need is to face a manager with point to prove
- The Northern Irishman, who was replaced by Klopp in 2015, could hand Liverpool their third loss on the trot
- Rodgers rejects Henderson and Salah, now Liverpool’s captain and star man, desperate to ensure that won’t happen
Liverpool appeared to be Brendan Rodgers’ shot at the big time. The Northern Irishman was close to being an Anfield legend. Seven years ago he came within two games of breaking the long title drought but his team fell apart in the final week of the season.
If Rodgers had pulled off that feat there would probably be a stature of him outside the Kop and Jurgen Klopp might have gone elsewhere. Instead, he is not remembered with much affection.
When he was sacked and replaced by Klopp in 2015 it looked like the former Swansea City manager’s career had peaked. The 48-year-old rehabilitated his prospects with a successful spell at Celtic and now presides over Leicester City, who host injury-hit Liverpool on Saturday at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester, third in the Premier League table, are handily positioned to qualify for the Champions League. Klopp’s team are a place below and three points behind. A home victory would give Rodgers satisfaction on many levels. He is young and ambitious enough to want another chance at a club whose stature rivals Liverpool’s.
Rodgers has not fared well against his old team in the three times he has faced them since taking over the Foxes. Liverpool have won each time with a goal difference of 9-1. Leicester will never have a better opportunity to change that trend.
