Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp's first years in charge of Liverpool have been compared, with some interesting results...

Jurgen Klopp celebrates a year in charge of Liverpool on Saturday, but how does the German's first 12 months at Anfield compare to predecessor Brendan Rodgers' debut year at the club?

Klopp replaced Rodgers as manager on October 8 2015 with the Reds sitting 10th in the table after winning just three of their opening eight Premier League games.

Meanwhile, Rodgers had taken over in the summer of 2012 following the departure of previous boss Kenny Dalglish meaning that, unlike Klopp, the Northern Irishman had a whole pre-season in which to prepare for his first campaign on Merseyside.

But how do the two coaches' inaugural campaigns at Liverpool compare when broken down?

Drawing a blank on debut

Rodgers' Reds reign began disastrously with a 3-0 thumping at West Brom on August 18 2012, a loss not helped by Daniel Agger's second-half sending-off.

Liverpool started the 2012/13 season with defeat to West Brom

Klopp's new players also failed to score in his first match at the helm, although at least Liverpool managed to avoid defeat after a creditable goalless draw at Tottenham.

Tough baptism for Rodgers

Rodgers faced Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in three of his next four encounters, a trio of early-season fixtures that yielded just a solitary point from the first of those contests.

Brendan Rodgers endured a tough start to life as Liverpool boss, including a 2-0 home loss to Arsenal in September 2012

In fact, it took Rodgers until his sixth game to record his first league win, a Luis Suarez-inspired 5-2 rout of Norwich City at Carrow Road which lifted Liverpool out of the relegation zone.

Klopp's early statements

In contrast, Klopp went unbeaten in his first six matches across three competitions, including a come-from-behind 3-1 victory at then champions Chelsea.

Jurgen Klopp shows his delight having got the better of Chelsea early on in his Liverpool reign

And two league games later came an equally impressive 4-1 demolition of title favourites City at the Etihad that raised eyebrows across the Premier League.

Initial struggles at home

Both men, however, had to wait before collecting their first top-flight wins at Anfield, with Rodgers taking until his fifth home match against Reading and Klopp his third versus Swansea City.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the Klop having recorded his first Premier League victory at Anfield

Inconsistent Reds

The early phases of Rodgers and Klopp's tenures were marked by inconsistent league form, with the former sitting just four points above the drop zone after winning just once in the whole of November, although that alarming run did include an impressive draw at Chelsea.

Daniel Sturridge shakes hands with Jurgen Klopp following Liverpool's 6-1 demolition of Southampton in the League Cup quarter-finals in December 2015

The German, meanwhile, saw his new charges follow those vibrant displays at Stamford Bridge, the Etihad and St Mary's - a 6-1 triumph over Southampton in the League Cup - with lacklustre performances at St James' Park and Vicarage Road in December.

Green shoots of recovery

Rodgers and Klopp both guided Liverpool into the knockout phase of the Europa League before Christmas in their debut campaigns, meaning they could then concentrate on trying to improve their league positions heading into the New Year.

Rodgers' side had moved up to ninth, eight points off fourth, by the end of 2012, with Klopp's team in seventh, just five points adrift of the Champions League places, after inflicting a first league loss on the road that season for future champions Leicester City.

Brendan Rodgers managed to lure Daniel Sturridge to Anfield in January 2013

However, while the German opted not to dip into the transfer market that January (apart from the purchase of Marko Grujic, who was immediately loaned back to Red Star Belgrade), the Irishman crucially brought in both Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho to bolster his ranks for the second half of the 2012/13 campaign.

And it did not take long for that duo to have an impact on results, with the Reds causing neutrals to sit up and take notice following back-to-back 2-2 draws at Arsenal and City.

Klopp's men, meanwhile, were also gaining momentum after beating Stoke City in January to reach the League Cup final, a competition Rodgers' team, as holders, had exited at the fourth round stage following a 3-1 home loss to Swansea.

Top-four ambitions

Rodgers did not record his first win over a top-four rival until beating Spurs 3-2 at Anfield on March 10 2013, a result that moved Liverpool to within seven points of fourth-placed Chelsea, albeit having played a game more than the Blues.

Brendan Rodgers recorded his first win over a top-four rival against Spurs in March 2013

At the same stage of the 2015/16 season, Klopp's side were six points off fourth-placed City - who they did the double over thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 win at Anfield in March - but cup distractions soon put paid to any dreams of Champions League qualification.

Cup half full or empty?

Rodgers' Reds were soon eliminated from both the FA Cup and Europa League following defeats to Oldham Athletic and Zenit St Petersburg respectively.

In contrast, Klopp - whose team were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round by West Ham United - managed to keep Liverpool's cup dreams alive on two fronts.

Jurgen Klopp salutes Liverpool's fans after beating Manchester United in the Europa League round-of-16 tie

And despite the Merseysiders suffering heartbreak after losing the League Cup final to City on penalties, that was soon forgotten after thrilling victories over United and Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League.

Strong league finishes

Both managers' campaigns got better as their seasons wore on, with Rodgers losing only one of his last 12 fixtures for a seventh-place league finish, 12 points behind Arsenal in the fourth and final Champions League berth.

Jurgen Klopp following Liverpool's Europa League Cup final defeat to Sevilla in May 2016

Despite trying to oversee Liverpool's run to the Europa League final against Sevilla, Klopp also enjoyed an encouraging climax to the campaign with two losses in his final 12 top-flight encounters leaving the Reds in eighth, six points off fourth placed City.

Start as you mean to go on

Of course, Klopp's first year in charge at Anfield has been split over two seasons, with the German also overseeing seven games so far this campaign.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates Liverpool's impressive start to the 2016/17 season Sadio Mane

And continuing on their good form from the end of the previous season, Liverpool have won five of their opening seven fixtures to sit fourth in the table.

What happened next for Rodgers?

Rodgers also carried the momentum from the back end of his first campaign as Liverpool boss into the following season, with the Reds not losing any of their opening four league matches in 2013/14.

Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard during Liverpool's 2013/14 campaign

In fact, Rodgers would go on to oversee the club's closest-ever Premier League title challenge that season, before falling at the final hurdle to hand City the championship.

Tale of the tape

Interestingly, when both managers' first years at the club are broken down, their Premier League records are remarkably similar, with each having lost nine games.

Klopp does just edge it, though, with the German registering more wins, points, goals and possession in his 12 months on Merseyside, but Rodgers can point to more shots, interceptions, a higher passing accuracy and less goals conceded in his debut campaign (albeit from one more match).

Rodgers v Klopp Liverpool in the Premier League Klopp Rodgers Games 37 38 Wins 18 16 Draws 10 13 Losses 9 9 Points 64 61 Goals 73 71 Total shots (inc. blocks) 645 739 Shots on target 210 232 Passes 20120 19802 Passing accuracy % 80.9 84.2 Average possession % 58.8 57.4 Tackles 825 795 Interceptions 508 526 Goals conceded 50 43 Shots faced (inc. blocks) 365 433 Shots on targets faced 128 141 Yellow cards 57 54 Red cards 2 2

You can watch England's tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price!