Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, the former Kop boss, who was relieved of his duties in October last year, believes that current boss Jurgen Klopp has some very good players at Anfield but will need time for his methods to work.
Said Brendan Rodgers, “They have a very good manager in Jurgen Klopp in place.”
“It’s going to take time to bed in his methods and how he wants to work. He has some very good players there.”
However, the Northern Irishman also warned that his successor will be facing the expectation that he is to end Liverpool’s long standing title drought. Rodgers cut an almost forlorn figure towards the end of his tenure as he faced immense pressure from the start of the season having failed to improve on Liverpool’s second place finish two seasons ago, while also not managing to lift any silverware at the Anfield club.
Said the ex-reds boss, “The expectancy, of course, is to win the league. We went very close in my time and obviously Jurgen will go in and feel that he can improve on that and that’s why the owners made the change.”
“They felt they wanted to improve and to improve on runners-up would be to win the league but it is going to take time. I’m sure the owners will give him that time.”
Adding on, Rodgers spoke up his ex-club’s chances in the feisty upcoming Europa League clash with historic rivals Manchester United, feeling that Liverpool would enter the match with confidence being on the back of a good run of form, but United, having done the double over Liverpool, also feeling that they have a good chance at winning.
“I was always pleased to be involved in those games as the manager of Liverpool. There is that rivalry between the two cities, in every aspect – economically and obviously football wise. It will be tight but Liverpool are coming off the back of good results so they will go into Thursday’s first leg with confidence. United will feel, having done the double over Liverpool, that they also have a good chance. It will be tight.”