17 Jun 2015

Sacked by Christmas? Bad news for Rodgers as Liverpool suffer staggeringly tough start to the season

After the recent train-wreck of a season, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is under intense pressure to turn things around at Anfield, but after a giant f%^k you from the Premier League fixture computer, things may be about to go from bad to worse for LFC's beleaguered boss.

Earlier today, the Premier League posted the fixtures for the 2015-16 season, and Liverpool have possibly the toughest opening 13 games in recent memory:

* Between August 22 and November 21st, the Reds face 7 tough AWAY games against Stoke City, Arsenal, Man United, Everton, Spurs, Chelsea, and Man City (!)

* Ouch! On the flip side, in the same time period, Liverpool have eminently winnable home games against Bournemouth, West Ham, Norwich, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace.

These games are winnable, but that counts for nothing in the Premier League, and last season, Liverpool were beaten by the likes of Villa (twice), Palace (twice), and West Ham.

Clearly, it's imperative that Liverpool hit the ground running next season, but as 2014-15 showed yet again, Rodgers' teams invariably start slowly, and if history repeats itself this year, Rodgers will almost certainly find himself out of a job by Christmas.

Rodgers' record also suggests that there's very little chance of Liverpool gaining maximum points (or even 50% of the spoils) from the seven away games noted above. Stats from the last three seasons:

* 2012-13: 4 points from a possible 21 (19% of available points). Three defeats (Man Utd, Stoke, and Tottenham); zero wins; four draws (Everton, Arsenal, Man City, and Chelsea).

* 2013-14: 10 points from a possible 21 (48% of available points). Three defeats (Chelsea, City, and Arsenal); three wins (Spurs, Man Utd, and Stoke); one draw (Everton).

* 2014-15: 4 points from a possible 21 (19% of available points). Five defeats (Chelsea, Arsenal, City, Man Utd, and Stoke); one win (Spurs); one draw (Everton).



* Totals: P21 W4 D6 L11 = 18 points from a possible 63 (28% of available points. Failed to win 81% of games. Average of 6 points a season in these particular games.

What are the chances that Liverpool are suddenly going to turn it around and improve upon these figures? Even WITH Suarez and Sturridge firing on all cylinders (during 2013-14), the Reds still managed only 10 points out of 21.

Unless the club undergoes a miraculous, historically unprecedented transformation, it's going to be brutal.

Rodgers should just resign now, and save himself the ignominy of being sacked whilst Liverpool are in (or near) the relegation zone (which is a distinct possibility if results follow the pattern of the previous three years).

Author: Jaimie K


78 comments:

  1. Then again, might be good time to play those games Away early before anyone build real momentum. and if we by some miracle start sharp and win host of those games, it will be a huge lift for the rest of the season.

    lots of ifs there. trying to stay positive

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  2. My positivity about LFC is often based on historical performance, and history shows that the Reds have little chances of getting much out of those 7 games.

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  3. Really tough to say. I think odds of BR getting sacked has increased considerably now with this fixture list. I am satisfied with our transfer business so far but will judge once we are done with all the signings. I just hope BR strengthens the squad by bringing in right players for the position like LB, DM, ST....then selects right players for the match, plays them in a right position and in a familiar formation. He will do himself a favor by getting some good results in first few away matches. But I still think he will repeat mistakes and will be sacked by November. Lets see.

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  4. Based on the way we finished our last season, Reds have little chance of getting anything out of the entire season.

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  5. i don't see the fuss, we play everyone twice, home and away same as every season let's get on with it !!

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  6. He has got between 12-14 games to keep his job but might be less if Liverpool get beaten heavily and could be 1 game if they get thrashed again at stoke. I glad that the got a tough fixture list which means no hiding place for him and the team.

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  7. With a squad of cowards and letdown merchants led by Captain Spineless Henderson and a clueless Mis-Manager the coming season will be a complete and utter disaster, you can just feel it.

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  8. Spineless Henderson? Really?

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  9. Was Klopp involved in the preparation of fixture list? ;-)

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  10. I think there is a great relevance of timing. You don't wanna face tougher teams when you are going through a bad form.

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  11. If Rodgers survives the summer, I'm confident we'll make a good start.
    First and foremost we played last season without any strikers. Ings will go part of the way to fixing that, so teams will have to be be more wary about attacking us. I'd like us to sign another striker because relying on Sturridge is too big a gamble.
    Secondly, for three months a lot of impartial people thought Liverpool were playing the best football in the league, so the potential is there.
    Thirdly, Gerrard was a problem - we did not play nearly as well in the games he featured in, because his legs aren't what they used to be. For a glimpse into the future look at how lively the England midfield has been since he retired.
    Lastly, We have a youngish team who are maturing with experience. Coutinho, Can, Henderson improved greatly last year and we should expect further improvements in lots more players too.

    Personally, I hope Rodgers stays. My gut feeling about him is he needs to move away from the idea that his coaching is enough on its own for us to succeed and realise that great players win matches. Limit the investment in potential and sign one or two star players who win big games for you.

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  12. Simple stuff really isn't it, who cares where and when we get the points, fact is we could of comfortably won the title 2013/14 but for perhaps a bit of inexperience from Brendan, if we get the players we need and he improves too, then why can't we go again.

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  13. Lot of ifs there.

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  14. Agreed, to me they're all feasible though - FSG get us the players first and then BR has to show that not only can he get the best out of them, but that he himself is improving tactically and can get us the season winning 'big game' results we need.

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  15. Firstly, I believe its manager's role to get the player HE WANTS. BR is not man enough for that am afraid. Secondly, I don't think BR is improving tactically. If anything, his tactical know-how digressed during the latter part of last season. Like you, I hope we start with a bang but looks improbable. Hopefully new signings and pre-season matches might give us some idea of our preparations.

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  16. 1st things 1st we gotta absolutely humilate stoke and bournemouth and show we are not playing around. we need to be ruthless and attempt to win those games by high margins. then when we face arsenal we need to show a different side to our game and get the draw. not many teams will beat arsenal at emirates so a draw is best. if we can just pick up draws against united, chelsea, man city and arsenal it will set us up for a brilliant season.


    but 1st things 1st, 2 big wins vs stoke and bournemouth and then a draw against arsenal.


    next season, we need to win ALL games at anfield. weve got a fortress of a ground and BR doesnt take full advantage. we need to be demolishing teams at home, whether it be chelsea or arsenal that needs to be the target for next season. once we beat all teams at home and pickup few points on road well get back the top 4.


    against stoke


    ---------------------------------------Mingolet
    Clyne--------------------skrtel-------------------sakho-------------moreno
    -----------------------------------------can
    ------------------------Milner----------------------hendo
    -----------------------------------------lallana
    --------------------------Coutinho------------Ings

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  17. Stoke City, Arsenal, Man United, Everton, Spurs, Chelsea, and Man City

    I'm thinking of a draw vs. spurs, maybe an ugly win vs. spurs,
    the rest were going to loss though! if not hammered!

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  18. Stoke City, Arsenal, Man United, Everton, Spurs, Chelsea, and Man City

    I'm thinking of a draw vs. spurs, maybe an ug ly win vs. spurs,
    the rest were going to loss though! if not hammmmmmered!

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  19. Stoke = Draw

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  20. you want another experience of Can, Moreno, Sakho and MigNolet against Stoke? Good luck.

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  21. May I remind you of Sixtoke?

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  22. Was probably BR's ex.

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  23. i could use sixtokes right about now

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  24. That's the reason am predicting draw. Liverpool will have a point to prove here. There are two ways Liverpool will go about this fixture...Conservative..try not to concede three and thereby limit our offensive prowess. 0-0 or 1-1 draw


    Or we could go for all out attack and try to outscore Stoke but our outstanding defense won't let that happen. 3-3 or 4-4 draw. All the same.
    .
    ;-)

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  25. Yes, she would hope to benefit from BR's sack with that 10mn figure quoted.

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  26. ...well someone is taking sixtokes...cos the peace pipe hasn't come around to either of us yet.... ;-)

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  27. OR
    we could field in a bunch of sub par premierleague players like last time around and find out about the result later?;-)

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  28. Best scenario is we go to sleep and wake up in January.

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  29. Agreed and wake up when we haveresigned suarez and carroll!

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  30. All good teams, all pretty forgivable...even everton...it being so passionate an dred card liability early in the season with 'mistimed' tackles..


    ...the one BR should be worried about is the one which will be the stick with which he will be beaten....Stoke....they will go all out to humiliate us again..they will smell and taste the blood before they take the pitch and Mark Hughes(ex Man U) will gee/fire them up proper....

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  31. "a giant f%^k you from the Premier League fixture computer", very good :) Useful piece too.

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  32. ...gosh, I've just realised how many 'will's' I put in that there comment....a few 'may's' would have been beneficial for texture I feel.....

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  33. Yep Robo.....guess who pressed the button to make it go....?


    ....howard webb....

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  34. With you on the managers role Chirag, in an ideal world BR would work on his 'war-face' a little but that may lead to FSG showing him the door, that may even be ok if they then employed someone better, but what if they only want a figure head who will do the coaching bit and then nod like a donkey the rest of the time.

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  35. Must be a joke about BR's sack there somewhere, guess no one would want to touch it though.

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  36. Or a different scenario......it counld really consolidate BR's position at the helm after we string together an excellent run of results away from home against the top teams......


    *Puts down opium pipe*

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  37. Jamaican Rum specially bought across from Africa should do it.

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  38. About that last point, he did bring it up at the meeting with FSG to mix experience and signing young players but they stood firm in their belief. I don't see how they can expect Rodgers to do well if they give him limited funds AND expect young players with potential in, and still succeed.

    I think what FSG are hoping is that we buy lots of young players with potential and 5/6 of them become World Class in the same season and fire us to glory- but it's not that easy. Eventually all our young players will leave just like Sterling for bigger clubs because we aren't getting success right now. It's so frustrating not being able to tell FSG that their idea is impractical and is destined to fail. And Rodgers won't say anything because the only reason they hired him was because he was a decent tactician and would be FSG's Yes Man!

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  39. Jamaican Rum specially bought in from Africa should do it.

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  40. You reckon he'll claim progress has been made, after a narrow defeat to stoke

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  41. Cavani Banter at its best!

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  42. wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole, hidden behind a curtain, hopped up on goofballs.

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  43. I think Rodgers will be given the whole season, but not because I think we're going to be in good shape by the new year. I am absolutely thrilled with next year's fixtures, we play all the big teams at home from January and the last 9 fixtures *should* be very winnable. We could go on an Arsenal-like end of season run that propels us into the champions league spots.
    Maybe I'm being a little naive, but when I saw the fixtures I was happy to get the tough games out of the way early.

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  44. You should know better than to leave those laying about. I'm off for a few million winks.

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  45. I can totally see the headline there.
    JK in 'My positivity about LFC' shocker... *
    *Please take that in a semi-jolly way, tis how it was intended :) I completely understand you see the current picture as lacking in cheeriness and have no doubt you'll sing as loud as anyone else when/if things improve.

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  46. ...as Fergie stood in the shadows cackling, blue lightning playing around his fingertips...

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  47. That's interesting. Rodgers isn't in a strong position to alter their approach now... I think FSG are missing the point ie; investing in quality players = success and with that the club becomes a lot more valuable, through Champions League and increased fan base etc... We could have easily been in the top 4 last year had we done our best to replace Suarez - how much would that be worth?

    Ultimately, American owners are in football to make money and they have made a good return on their investment. They seem to be a decent bunch and at least they have done something about the stadium.

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  48. ..along with the string he was dangling webb with.........

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  49. Our record at all these teams away from home is so poor. Against the top teams, we have only won one away game against a poor Moyes Utd team. This is definitely make or break for Rodgers and will decide his future.

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  50. Genuinely - yes I really do and not in a kiss arse way either, I actually think when we win the league Jamie will somehow manage to make it a national public holiday, whether or not that courtesy would extend to England though...
    I'm sure it would :)

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  51. In Brendan Rodgers' reign, any team are a tough game. (Palace, Villa, West Brom, Hull, etc...)

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  52. Dude we have signed a fair number of players older than 18-21 yoa...


    ...either they need time to settle, time to get to know their team-mates, time to understand the expectation, understand the tactical ethos,etc....


    ...regardless, some like Balotelli (24) was just sh*t (in my humble opinion - and no I'm not Mancini or morinho)...
    ...but the board, commitee whatever, have bought a mix...please lets not be mistaken...


    ...the dude there - Mr Phil B - I agree that the factors which provide 'rub of green', 'purple patches' and 'fairy dust sprinkles', just were not on our side last term...


    ...lets just wait and see about this one...have faith...

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  53. ...in 2013/14..we blew everyone away bar last few games......


    ...I would say everyone had the opposite opinion when we have a decent striker occupying the other team.....

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  54. ...Oh sorry there, Bob, I read 'winks' wrong and wrote off to the Guinness book of records.....


    ...they said if you were still alive and breathing after the fact..then they would gladly put you in..


    ...they also had the stipulation you give an appropriate proportion as charity to a sperm bank.......

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  55. Agree that away games against top 4 are pretty much right offs.

    Whats worrying is Rodgers teams seem momentum based, we seem to go on runs of form but unable to get over defeats quickly. After Utd beat us Anfield we were still well in top 4 equation, 1 point from West Brom, Hull & Palace killed that.



    Can see us safely in mid table after that run of fixtures.

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  56. I have no idea what Jaimie is writing about....I've guessed that it has something to do with football....


    ...I only say this because I can't stop looking at the russian girl in the picture next to the first four paragraphs....


    ...am I alone in this quest to find focus...?

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  57. Jaimie....come on....I've written something harmless......there's no need to eat my words now is there.....play nice......

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  58. I actually tried that when I was thirteen and had acquired a lock on the bathroom door. By the fifth w**k I wasn't able to produce the goods - only a dust cloud followed by the sound of a deflating balloon.

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  59. ...you know, Bob, Pavlov would be sooo interested to interview you about that....


    I reckon he'd probe into how you respond in the trouser department to going through a music shop's brass section....


    ...Ok sod it I'll ask.....a whole seduction industry has been built on this....did the tuba association extend to the sex god music of kenny G.....?

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  60. The first 3 months of the league will either make him or break him.

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  61. Have to say, I disagree with ALL OF THE ABOVE

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  62. Most of that lot don't have the BOTTLE to beat Stoke

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  63. Boys are still suffering from PTSD of the last game...

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  64. "You'll get sacked in the morning" hasn't stop ringing in Rodgers ears, and he's already back at Sixtoke

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  65. Well about half of the existing players mentioned have done just that the last three out of four times we played them.

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  66. If he is even still in charge by then

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  67. Where there's a will there should be a may...

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  68. By the case load

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  69. As they always warn with investments and shares "past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results"

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  70. If the sun is shining it will be raining somewhere if you look had enough

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  71. The problem BR has is the same as every other manager when they have lost the fans trust.


    One defeat or even a poor performance and the entire crowd will be on his back.


    Once a manager is at point it is very rare for him to last a few months.


    I never see the point in the any board keeping a manager once he has lost the fans.

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  72. My evening has been ruined...

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  73. I'm really enjoying my fellow reds positivity around what could be possible in the early part of the new season but i would like to add a touch of realism because quite frankly the fly in the ointment is Brendan Rodgers. He has quite clearly been shown to be out of his depth and unless a Pako Ayesteran of a Rene Meulensteen come in to add some tactical nous to the mix any positivity going in to the new season will evaporate very quickly.

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  74. I think you've hit the nail on the head there mate.

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  75. Yes, with Gerrard, Suarez and Sturridge, all there doing the business; whilst the other passengers looked on ..

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  76. Hope so; time for the rose tinted sunglasses to come off.

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