Mess up last season and the blame is invariably shunted onto Mario Balotelli. Surrender in big matches, such as the FA Cup semi-final to Aston Villa, and the transfer committee comes under attack. Lose 6-1 at Stoke in a performance that is the antithesis of everything the club stands for and Brendan Rodgers gets it in the neck. Win once in 90 minutes in nine matches and it is Fenway Sports Group's ownership model which is broken. The owners, the transfer committee and the previous manager have played a part in Liverpool's slide towards mediocrity, but at Anfield the spotlight does not always shine into every nook and cranny. Until now.

Reasons why we love Jurgen Klopp Fri, September 30, 2016 Jurgen Klopp looks to be coming to the Premier League as the new manager of Liverpool. Express Sport have rounded up all our favourite pictures of the German manager. Play slideshow IG 1 of 11 Hot dog anyone?

It is natural to assume there will be an improvement in the short term from those looking to catch the eye of the new man. What is intriguing is whether that upturn will be prolonged given FSG's decision to jettison Rodgers was because they did not feel he was getting the best from the players at his disposal. If, come January and next summer, Klopp is pushing for yet more wholesale changes then it will add credence to his predecessor's theory he did not have the tools to be a success and leave FSG's faith in their scouts and analysts exposed. Klopp will know plenty about Roberto Firmino, who arrived at Liverpool from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for £29million in the summer, with Rodgers in agreement unless it impacted upon a deal for Christian Benteke.

GETTY Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has also been suggested to take over at Liverpool

Firmino scored in a 3-2 defeat against Dortmund in the German Cup back in April, after which Klopp hailed the Brazilian’s performance. At Dortmund the favoured formation was 4-2-3-1 so how the quartet of Firmino, Benteke, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge fits in - if they do so - represents one of many sub-plots. How, when Klopp craves the "perfect" defence, will he view Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren, who is perhaps the only player to have been subjected to sustained criticism over the past 12 months? Will he see Alberto Moreno as a conventional left-back where Rodgers regarded the young Spaniard's defensive flaws as meaning he could only play as a wing-back? What will he do with Emre Can?

Brendan Rodgers: Career in pictures Sun, October 4, 2015 Express Sport takes a look at Brendan Rodgers' career in pictures. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 17 Former Chelsea reserve team coach, Rodgers left the Blues to take charge of Championship side Watford in November 2008