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Brendan Rodgers’ Anfield reign is at a crossroads. The 2015-16 campaign is sink or swim time.

After the wheels came off so spectacularly in the closing months of last season, the Northern Irishman has been given the opportunity to put things right.

The decision by owners Fenway Sports Group to keep faith with Rodgers divided opinion among a fanbase whose patience had been stretched to the limit by the events of the spring.

Many were calling for change after a campaign when Liverpool trailed home sixth in the Premier League - their tally of 62 points was 22 less than 2013-14 and their haul of 52 goals was 49 fewer.

Not since the 1993-94 season, which saw the club part company with Graeme Souness, had the Reds’ goal difference been as low as plus four.

Their return to the Champions League proved painfully shortlived and two promising domestic cup runs faded into insignificance when Rodgers’ side delivered such a woeful display in the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at Wembley.

A spirited mid-season revival had long since been forgotten when Stoke City provided the final humiliating chapter with a 6-1 thrashing - Liverpool's worst defeat for 52 years.

In the bowels of the Britannia Stadium, Rodgers looked a broken man and admitted that his job was in jeopardy following such a spineless capitulation.

Rodgers back from the brink

Few managers of elite clubs come back from a body blow like that but FSG duo Mike Gordon and Tom Werner refused to reach for the panic button.

The belief in Boston was that while under-achieving in 2014-15, Rodgers had been hampered by circumstances beyond his control.

The owners accepted that Liverpool made mistakes in the transfer market last summer that Rodgers couldn’t be held solely responsible for. They failed to adequately replace the world class talents of Luis Suarez and that glaring error was compounded by Daniel Sturridge’s injury woes.

When a team implodes like Liverpool did during the run-in serious questions will be asked about the man at the helm but the 42-year-old still had credit in the bank with the owners.

Just 12 months earlier he had been crowned Manager of the Year by his peers and handed a new four-year contract after masterminding a thrilling title challenge.

Can Rodgers get back to those heights? That’s the challenge facing him as he enters his fourth season at Liverpool.

He has to silence his critics by recapturing that exhilarating brand of attacking football and prove that 2013-14 wasn’t just a Suarez-inspired one off.

Identity crisis

Liverpool lost their identity throughout the struggles of 2014/15 and they need it back and fast. When Rodgers arrived from Swansea City in 2012 many fans doubted his credentials to bring success to Anfield and in truth little has changed.

Yet his bid to win over the army of doubters and put his reign back on track has been bolstered by a summer of sweeping changes.

This time around Rodgers can have no complaints about either the backing of the owners or the work of Liverpool’s transfer committee. Where last year they dallied, this time around targets were secured quickly and decisively.

Areas of glaring weakness have been addressed. Trying to replace Steven Gerrard was always going to be a fruitless task but the Reds have taken steps towards filling that gaping void by buying both experience and goals.

Securing the services of James Milner on a free transfer from Manchester City was a major coup. The England international was lured to Anfield by the promise of the central midfield role denied him by Manuel Pellegrini.

A model professional, Milner is underrated and exactly what Liverpool require. His work rate and athleticism are ideally suited to Rodgers’ pressing game and he will be a leader on and off the field.

When Liverpool flopped on the big stage last season, they stood accused of lacking character and mental strength. Milner will strengthen that backbone.

Reds no longer striker light

The lion’s share of the Reds’ £84million summer spending spree went on Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino.

Benteke was always Rodgers’ No 1 target and the fact that FSG agreed to trigger his £32.5million release clause was another demonstration of their unwavering support for the manager.

How Rodgers must hope the Belgium international repays that faith by firing Liverpool’s into the Champions League spots.

Kopites know all about Benteke having watched him torment the Reds for Aston Villa but Firmino, who arrived from Hoffenheim in a £29million deal, is more of an unknown quantity.

The prospect of watching the versatile Brazilian attacker link up with fellow countryman Philippe Coutinho is mouthwatering.

With Danny Ings and Divock Origi also on board, Liverpool’s striking department is well stocked for the campaign ahead. The squad looks deep enough to cope with the added demands of the Europa League.

Nathaniel Clyne, a £12million buy from Southampton, is the perfect replacement for Glen Johnson at right-back, while teenage defender Joe Gomez has already shown his class after moving from Charlton.

Wisely, the focus in transfer policy has shifted from trying to find value in rookies from overseas to buying more proven players who know what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. That should enable the new boys to hit the ground running.

Sterling disservice

It hasn’t all been plain sailing with the departure of captain Steven Gerrard to LA Galaxy followed by the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City.

The disgraceful antics of Sterling and his camp – coupled with the eye-watering fee of £49million – meant that most supporters were simply glad to see the back of him.

However, the reality is that Liverpool have lost their most gifted youngster to a domestic rival. The hope is that Jordon Ibe will realise his rich potential and prove to be the perfect replacement.

The armband which belonged to Gerrard for more than a decade has been passed to Jordan Henderson.

It’s a tough act to follow but the England international has already embraced the extra responsibility and commands the respect of everyone in the dressing room.

Rodgers ruthlessly showed assistant boss Colin Pascoe and coach Mike Marsh the door and installed a new backroom staff of Sean O’Driscoll, Pep Lijnders and former Kop favourite Gary McAllister amid talk of moving in a “new technical direction”.

As well as the influx of new faces, much will hinge on Rodgers’ ability to get more out of those who remain from last term. How he needs the likes of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno and Lazar Markovic to belatedly live up to their price tags.

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The fixture list is laced with danger – with Stoke and a trip to the scene of May’s debacle first up.

The importance of a flying start to the campaign can’t be over-stated. All eyes will be on the Britannia to see whether this really is a ‘new’ Liverpool.

This season there will be no room for excuses. Rodgers has the tools he asked for. Now he has to deliver.