Imminent new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers grew up a huge Reds fan. Speaking before his Swansea City beat Liverpool in the last game of the season three weeks ago, Rodgers spoke passionately about his love affair with Liverpool.

He said: "I used to sit there and watch Match of the Day with my grandad, to watch Liverpool and the way they played. We loved to watch them, just as we loved the Brazilian side of the 70s too.

"My father was big into the Johan Cruyff era with Ajax and Holland and that too was a philosophy that I grew to understand from when I was very young.

"Liverpool have an incredible history of winning Leagues and European Cups. They are trying to build back towards that."