20 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwoYoucouldforgiveBrendanRodgersa wry smile
when Divock Origi wrapped up Champions League
victory for Liverpool in June. Not because it was
the Northern Irishman who signed him in 2014, but
something bigger: the Reds had finally moved on.
It wasn’t the top-flight title that has eluded them
since 1989-90, but it was enough – just reward for
a terrific season which has surely put to rest those
demons of 2013-14. A mortifying misstep meant it
wasn’t to be for Rodgers five years ago – or indeed
ever at Liverpool – but all parties have recovered
serenely since; the Reds are now a rewired machineCAn BREnDAn RODGERS REBUILD
HIS REPUTATIOn In EnGLAnD?
PREMIER LEAGUE
2019-20
under Jurgen Klopp, and Rodgers is back in the Premier
League with Leicester after leading Celtic almost all
the way to treble-treble glory.
Not that Rodgers was inclined to see that unique
achievement through. Only two late-February days
separated Leicester pulling the trigger on Claude Puel
and replacing him with Rodgers – a surprisingly swift
decision on the latter’s part, which infuriated Celtic’s
impassioned supporters.
Rodgers himself admitted the manner of his move
down south wasn’t perfect. “The ideal time would have
been the summer,” he admitted. “But if you remove
any emotion, I believe this opportunity to come to
a club like Leicester wasn’t going to wait.”A cynic might suggest the Foxes would have happily
seen out a middling campaign to get their man; that
Rodgers saw the last three months of the season as
a free hit, and ample time to familiarise himself with
a new squad ahead of 2019-20. Such a cynic might
further say this could be his ticket to another job back
at the top table.
Either way, his popular appointment had the desired
effects. After Leicester’s dour Puel era, a young squad
immediately warmed to Rodgers (“a breath of fresh
air,” as midfielder James Maddison told FFT) and won
five of their six games after the announcement. There
won’t be European football this season, but that will
be the realistic aim for 2020-21 as Rodgers aims to
mould the Foxes’ exciting bunch into a force made
of sterner stuff. Adding players like Youri Tielemans
certainly helps.
On paper it’s a fine match. With Arsenal and Chelsea
wading through treacle and Manchester United in
systematic decline, a top-six finish is not an entirely
unrealistic aim. Toppling either would be the perfect
way to prove that Brendan is back.LAST SEASON
PREMIER LEAGUE 9th
FA CUP Third Round
LEAGUE CUP Quarter-Finals
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