Brendan Rodgers will remain in charge of Liverpool next season after crunch talks with the club's American owners. But he could face a testing summer after former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was appointed manager of Real Madrid and promptly linked with unsettled winger Raheem Sterling, while managerial heavyweights wait in the wings.
Rodgers admitted his job was under threat after the Reds' campaign ended with a humiliating 6-1 to Stoke City, Liverpool's worst defeat for 52 years, and he failed to deliver any silverware for a third successive season.
However, he was confirmed in his job after a meeting with club chairman Tom Werner and Mike Gordon, the president of Fenway Sports Group.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
"A full review of the Reds' campaign was undertaken at the summit and an agreement was reached between all parties that improvements must be made if targets are to be reached," reports the Daily Mail. "A comprehensive battle plan for next season was drawn up and all sides agreed to move forward together, with Rodgers remaining in charge."
However, Rodgers can consider himself the "luckiest man in English football" writes Liverpool fanzine editor David Usher on ESPN.
"He may have been granted a stay of execution but Rodgers cannot feel entirely safe. FSG may not have wanted to pull the trigger on him this summer but should Liverpool get off to a stuttering start next season, the calls from supporters for change will be deafening."
Heavyweight European managers Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti are waiting in the wings and have been linked with the Anfield job, while the spectre of Rafa Benitez may also loom large over Anfield this summer.
The Kop favourite has been unveiled as the new Real Madrid manager, and the Liverpool Echo notes that he "confirmed Real Madrid are tracking Anfield contract rebel Raheem Sterling".
When asked about the England winger he said: "We admire Raheem Sterling, that's no secret," but refused to elaborate on any plans to sign him.
