Why Kenny Dalglish is the man to replace Brendan Rodgers

Carlo Ancelotti has been linked with the Liverpool job, to replace Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers is edging towards the exit at Liverpool after failing to ever properly recover from the loss of Luis Suarez, Anfield’s Lord and Saviour, to Liverpool. It would have been difficult for anyone to replace Suarez, and he left for reasons beyond his control.

Obviously, it appears on the surface as if Suarez left Liverpool because he had the opportunity to play regular Champions League football with the best club in the world - except Liverpool - with the best player in the world - except Steven Gerrard. Other players who had not been brought into the astoundingly devoted, emotional, classy and knowledgeable Liverpool football family would have found it easy to leave for Barcelona, but that doesn’t quite sit right if you think he left the greatest city and club in the world for Barcelona. No, it cannot be the case that he was trying to advance his career. There must be something deeper at play.

Interviewing people from Liverpool, most of whom were constantly on the verge of tears, about to well up, or with tears streaming down their face already, such is their passion for Luis, Brendan, Steven and Liverpool, it is obvious what really happened. A sustained campaign from Manchester United had played its part. Ever since Patrice Evra’s allegations, the country had turned against him. It was made worse when Branislav Ivanovic went on to smear him with the allegation that he had been bitten by Suarez, when it appears to anyone sensible that there was not even any downward motion on Ivanovic’s arm.

Not content with the FA exploiting both these situations to hound a foreigner on British soil, it seemed that the conspiracy went even further, when he was banned for months for biting another player at the World Cup. Sepp Blatter had teamed up with Alex Ferguson and Greg Dyke to humiliate Suarez and Liverpool, and ensure that he would be forced to take emergency action to salvage his career. To end the persecution, he had to sacrifice his Liverpool career and join Barcelona, who were clearly in league with the other powers and UEFA, backed by Qatar’s millions, to keep their position at the top of football. Conspiracy theorists are often dismissed, but watching the fervour with which Liverpool fans constantly blubbed that this must be the real course of events, it said more than real evidence ever could. David Walsh and Paul Kimmage are making a documentary over the whole episode, reportedly.

Obviously, Rodgers could not stand up against so many people bent on destroying the club, but he perservered nevertheless. But even he struggled to put together a side with some many new players, and the side only briefly flickered and hinted at what it was capable of last season. Rodgers kindly invited journalists into his inner sanctum to explain how that run of form was down to his own special genius, which cruelly gave the chance for his peers to work out how to play against this heroic collection of players, and Mario Balotelli.

It seems, sadly, that Rodgers has been sunk by the obstacles and hardships put in his way by other forces, and a new manager should soon be needed. Obviously, as this is Liverpool, only the best will do, and only the best will be interested in taking over. This is the biggest club in the world, with the greatest history, with fans who care so much that they spend their time alternately ecstatic, bawling their eyes out, or raging against the rest of the world for failing to appreciate their undisputed magnificence.

Who has the necessary skill, experience genius to qualify for the job? Two men spring to mind.

Carlo Ancelotti is the current rumour. The ex-Real Madrid manager left in the summer to take some time off. After a short break, spending some of his time in London, he could be ready to return to management, and there are several factors that make him worth employing. For one, he knows Liverpool, having been beaten in 2005 during the Istanbul miracle. In 2007, he managed to fluke a victory against them in the 2007 final, but that won’t be held against him by the fans. What it means is that having managed AC Milan at their modern peak, he will have experienced, almost, what it’s like to have been in charge of one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course, Milan are not quite as important as Liverpool, but nowhere else is.

Similarly, at Real Madrid he has experience in managing Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps the fourth best player in the world after Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Philippe Coutinho. His knowledge of how to manager superstars like this could help establish Coutinho in the minds of the wider world, and give him and Liverpool the respect they deserve. Liverpool cannot risk seeing another genius leave because he goes unappreciated in England.

The other option is Jurgen Klopp, who is also taking some time off after the stresses of managing Borussia Dortmund. Just looking at his glasses, tracksuits and hair, it is obvious that he would fit into the fashion-forward environs of Liverpool. He has managed to win the Bundesliga with a side that is almost the equal of Liverpool’s Suarez vintage, and took his side to a Champions League football, showing that he understands that he understands Liverpool’s natural home.

The worry is that the Liverpool job would be too big for either of these men. That the sheer scale, history and brains of those in the crowd would dwarf him. That the players would demand too much of any man who isn’t a footballing genius. That’s why we all know what needs to happen. Kenny Dalglish, the real football genius, and Steven Gerrard, the greatest footballer of his generation, are destined to return Liverpool to rightful glory.