Liverpool's end of season slump and yet another summer of looming transfer chaos may have undermined the position of manager Brendan Rodgers, who may now have to persuade the club's American owners Fenway Sports Group that he is still the man for the job.
He faces an end-of-season review at which he "will have to prove he is the right man to take Liverpool forward", reports Tony Barrett of The Times. Although Rodgers has lost the support of many fans this season his job is not in immediate danger, says the paper, but the talks are aimed at establishing "common ground" between owners and manager.
"High on the agenda will be the need to address the disconnect between transfer strategy and team selection, with FSG hoping Rodgers is ready to convince them of his willingness to persevere with several signings who have yet to make the desired impact," says the Times.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That news will not go down well with fans hoping to see the back of players like Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, who have failed badly this term.
Despite their hope that last summer's signings will come good, Liverpool's American bosses are said to be sympathetic to the problems Rodgers has faced this season, after the sale of Luis Suarez and the absence of Daniel Sturridge.
Yet "there is also a recognition that the overall standards of performance should have been better", says Chis Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph.
He points out that Liverpool have failed in "high-profile games" this season, not just against their Premier League rivals but also in the Champions League and notably against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final.
Recent displays have been "abject", says Bascombe, and defeat to Hull last month was "especially disturbing" as the race for the top four was still open. "It is these latter performances that Rodgers may find most difficult to explain," he warns.
Commenting during a webchat for The Times, chief football correspondent Oliver Kay said the start of next season could prove critical for Rodgers, but agreed that he would survive the summer.
"I don't think Rodgers is on the safest of ground at Liverpool, but neither do I think they're about to sack him. Nor should they be. If you were going to make a list of Liverpool's problems, Rodgers wouldn't or shouldn't be high on the list," he said.
-
How do new stadiums affect football clubs?In the Spotlight Everton's decision to move its men's team out of Goodison Park could be a catalyst for vital change, but there are cautionary tales too
-
Liverpool's Anfield redemption: how did they do it?Talking Point Arne Slot's blueprint and standout player performances guide the Reds to record 20th league title
-
Where are all the English football managers?Talking Point Eddie Howe's Carabao Cup success underlines absence of homegrown coaching talent in the Premier League
-
New Trafford: can it fix Manchester United's footballing problems?Talking Point Plan for £2 billion stadium despite staff job losses and lack of success on the pitch
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden bootfeature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
