Brendan Rodgers will hope his goal-shy Celtic can break their fast at Ibrox against a defence that conceded five in midweekEven in as fevered a football environment as Glasgow, the shifting of bragging rights in the days leading up to an Old Firm clash felt novel. Rangers supporters were purring with expectation after St Johnstone held Celtic to a scoreless draw last weekend. The return of Brendan Rodgers had already been punctured by a feeble League Cup exit at Kilmarnock. The blue half of the city were licking their lips at the prospect of Rodgers bringing his team to Ibrox.The changing of attitudes came after midweek events in Eindhoven. The manner of PSV’s 5-1 humbling of Rangers left Michael Beale...
A return for Brendan Rodgers has been rumoured but a lower-profile manager like Enzo Maresca may make more senseCeltic’s supporters must know not to fall for managers. Ange Postecoglou’s exit for Tottenham maintained a theme which dictates those fans will surely be careful not to be seduced by the Australian’s successor. These marriages are only ever of convenience.Neil Lennon, Postecoglou’s immediate predecessor, is an iconic Celtic figure who was subjected to vile abuse before time was called on his second tenure. What Lennon should have had stored in the bank of goodwill counted for nothing. Brendan Rodgers was revered in the east end of Glasgow before he, like Postecoglou, was coaxed by the bright lights of the Premier League. That...
There are problems at the King Power but the Foxes’ poor form may not be due to suggestions that the manager is stagnating There was a rumour this past week that Brendan Rodgers had been sacked as manager of Leicester City. It turned out not to be true, but the fact it seemed so believable was telling. The improved performance against West Ham – when they were denied victory only by a late equaliser that prompted one of football’s increasingly frequent epistemological debates: what is a hand? – has perhaps calmed the situation beforeSunday’s game against Wolves, but the pressure is real enough.Rodgers may have twice taken Leicester to fifth in the Premier League (with the ninth-highest wage bill) and...
Brendan Rodgers’ side were unlucky to miss out on top four after a season racked by injuries, while Chelsea imploded but held on to fourth and Liverpool stormed to thirdAs you were, then. At the end of this most unpredictable and turbulent of seasons, a time of pandemic and insurrection, the top four places in the Premier League ended in the hands of its four biggest and richest clubs.Eight restless months after we started, English football’s new order – it turned out – looked largely like the old. Related: Leicester’s defeat to Tottenham hands Champions League place to Chelsea Related: Chelsea qualify for Champions League despite stumbling at Aston Villa Continue reading...
Leicester manager’s title tilt at Anfield helped reset Liverpool, while last season’s Boxing Day game was key to Reds’ success, adding spice to Sunday’s clash between leaders and champions‘It was unbelievable. It was pure football power destruction.” It is an oddity of the calendar that Leicester’s trip to Anfield on Sunday night will break a spell of 11 months since these two Premier League teams last met. No ordinary 11 months, either. Take a look at the highlights from the King Power Stadium, Boxing Day 2019, and it starts to look like something else, a last dance before the end times. Related: When Leicester ended Liverpool’s unbeaten run – then were relegated It took Rodgers four years to go from...