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#3: He almost won the league in 2013/14
Rodgers’ tenure at Liverpool might’ve ended in tears in October 2015, but it’s very easy to forget how well he did during the 2013/14 season at Anfield. Liverpool fans might worship Jurgen Klopp right now and they might always hold a soft spot for Rafa Benitez for the 2005 Champions League win, but it’s Rodgers who got them closer to an elusive Premier League title than all of the rest.
Buoyed by the attacking talents of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling and driven by the leadership of Steven Gerrard, Liverpool under Rodgers in 2013/14 were fantastic. Had it not been for two bad results in their last three games – a loss to Chelsea punctuated by Gerrard’s infamous slip and a freakish 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace – they would actually have lifted the trophy ahead of Manchester City. What’s more, the 101 goals they scored that season was an all-time high mark for the club – even better than their 70s and 80s heyday.
As they missed out on the title, Rodgers’ side goes down as one of the all-time great Premier League teams to not win the championship – up there with Kevin Keegan’s mid-90s Newcastle side – but that’s nothing to be ashamed of, really. And taking 2nd position in that season remains their highest Premier League finish (along with 2001/02 and 2008/09).
Essentially, the list of Premier League managers includes just 10 names – all of them great in their own way. And outside of them, Rodgers came closer than most of the others to capturing the title. Surely that means he deserves another chance?
