Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa last weekend has effectively rendered their season over.
All they’ve got to play for is for a spot in next season’s Europa League, even though they do still have a slim – albeit unlikely – chance of finishing in the top four.
Brendan Rodgers’ side caved in towards the end of last season as it look almost nailed on that they’d end their wait for a first ever Premier League crown. Since then, they’ve lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Daniel Sturridge to injury and wasted their money on a number of poorly thought out summer signings.
That resulted in the campaign they’re having now, which is a far cry from the ruthlessly attacking, title challenging Liverpool of last season.
Rodgers’ job is now being brought in to question. Can he go on as Reds boss? Well, earlier this week we asked Liverpool fans who they’d like to see in charge of their beloved club next season.
We gave them a list of potential managers – including Rodgers – and asked them to vote each one as a thumbs up or thumbs down.
467 fans took part and had their say. Here are the top five they voted for…
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5. Brendan Rodgers
So it’s not all anti-Rodgers in Merseyside.
All this talk of a potential Rodgers exit this summer may be a bit premature, and the Anfield faithful aren’t completely done with him yet.
That said, he’s been ousted by four other names, which doesn’t bode particularly well. I’ll stick my neck out and say he wouldn’t come out on top if we ran this exact poll last summer. Still, a year is a long time in football, isn’t it?
4. Carlo Ancelotti
He could be leaving Real Madrid this summer, which might just spark a bit of a free-for-all for his signature.
The former Chelsea boss won the Champions League with Real last season and is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the game. So it’s fair to say Liverpool could do a lot worse in trying to tempt him to Anfield should they feel it’s necessary to replace Rodgers.
But he’s still not the fans’ first choice, which is quite surprising.
3. Diego Simeone
An up and coming manager that guided an up and coming team to a league title (ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid) deserves all the credit he deserves.
Simeone appears to have taken to management like a duck takes to water, so it’s no surprise some of Europe’s top clubs are keeping a close eye on his success at Atletico Madrid.
And it’s even less of a surprise that Liverpool fans would love to see the Argentine in charge at Anfield in the not too distant future.
But tempting him from Spain may prove difficult, as a he signed a new five-year deal with Atletico recently.
Next…
2. Rafael Benitez
A fairytale appointment, surely?
The Spaniard was the mastermind behind that Champions League victory over AC Milan in 2005. That instantly gave him legend status at Anfield and he’d undoubtedly be welcomed back with open arms should he decide to go ‘home.’
And it’s not entirely out of the question, either. Benitez’s Napoli future is far from secure and he could well be looking for a new club this summer.
West Ham are thought to be in touch with him over replacing Sam Allardyce, but if Liverpool were to enter the equation there’d be no contest. Sorry, Hammers…
1. Jurgen Klopp
Of course he’s the fans’ number one choice. Who wouldn’t want the German in charge of their club?
Klopp announced last week that he’d be leaving Borussia Dortmund this summer, which has subsequently got scores of clubs across Europe assessing their managerial options. West Ham have reportedly been told to “do one” after approaching Klopp earlier this week, but surely Liverpool would have a better chance?
The sheer fact that Klopp is going to be available in the summer will probably have the Anfield hierarchy wondering whether it’d be worth giving Rodgers the chop in favour for a Klopp revolution.
We’ll have to wait and see, but Klopp is the fans’ choice and the club would be mad not to consider bringing him in…
