Liverpool

I like to imagine somewhere in Merseyside this week, Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp met at Liverpool Lime Street, at the train station, and had a cup of coffee. In my head the conversation was light and mostly not about soccer. Something like this:

Klopp laughs a shushed laugh at one of Rodgers’s stories about Jose Mourinho from his time at Chelsea, and then there’s a natural pause in the smooth, flowing conversation. This is uncomfortable for both men.

Rodgers: “This is a really good club, you know.”

It was a rocky three-year-long marriage, but Liverpool finally parted ways with Brendan Rodgers. Now, the Reds are keen on hiring a high profile manager to lead the club (most notably former Borussia Dortmund man Jurgen Klopp), and the immediate start of the search has seen Liverpool contact Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti. 

Former Liverpool favorite John Aldridge would like to see the Italian manager commanding the club.

Liverpool FC have announced they have fired Brendan Rodgers. The sacking is effective immediately following the club's lackluster 1-1 draw with Everton. The "Rodgers Out" cries sounded far and wide on Twitter.

In England, it doesn’t get any bigger than Manchester United and Liverpool. Just ask Pele, who compared the Northwest England derby to El Clasico last spring. Thirty-four miles and two major trophies separate the two most successful sides In England history.

Serious question: do you think you could do a dizzy penalty?

Gareth Bale couldn't do it.

Apparently this is a thing now. Players spin around and try and take a penalty and it's hilarious. We don't know why they would do this, but whatever. Minor details.

Look! Liverpool players tried it too! We learned that Joe Gomez is likely a better dizzy defender than a dizzy attacker, among other things.

Aston Villa will host Manchester United this weekend in their first home opener match at Villa Park and will look for a second win despite many pivotal players leaving the club. At least Christian Benteke will start for Villa as a striker, right? As far as Neil Warnock is concerned, Tim Sherwood will play Benteke up front with Fabian Delph right behind him in central midfield. 

Liverpool have a very exciting year set out before them with new players, new attitudes, and a high chance of succeeding in Europe. Roberto Firmino is one of many new additions to the Liverpool squad that has excited fans to watch the link-ups between him and his Brazilian compatriot Philippe Coutinho.