football Brendan Rodgers now favourite to manage Liverpool

[Rappy Veteran]

Brendan Rodgers has emerged as the new favourite to succeed Kenny Dalglish in the Anfield hot seat.

Wigan's Roberto Martinez was being strongly tipped to take over at Liverpool after talks with the club's American owners Fenway Sports Group in Miami last week.

But there was still no word from Martinez as he arrived back in Manchester today following a family holiday in Barbados and Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has issued a deadline of Thursday for an agreement to be reached.

The story took a new twist today with Swansea boss Rodgers, who originally turned down the chance to speak to FSG, appearing firmly back in frame with online bookies Sky Bet. He is now 1/2 to be appointed Reds' manager with Martinez out to 2/1.

It now appears to be definitely a two-horse race with Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp out to 12/1 after being as short as 2/1 early on Monday.

Football trader Joe Petyt explained: "When Martinez was photographed with FSG's John Henry in America he became the strong favourite but even during that time we saw sustained money for Rodgers.

"In the last 24 hours the amount of money we've seen on Rodgers has increased substantially which indicates to us that some people have heard that he's going to take the job."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/7785154/Money-comes-in-for-Rodgers

[Rappy Veteran]

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is expected to be confirmed as the new Liverpool boss in the next 48 hours.

The clubs are understood to be discussing compensation for the 39-year-old, with Swansea likely to receive a compensation payment of between ?4m and ?5m.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez had been in contention, but attention has since switched back to Rodgers.

It is understood that Liverpool will not now appoint a director of football.

Widespread reports suggested the club were seeking to install a figure such as Johan Cruyff or Louis van Gaal as well as a manager, but it appears Rodgers will now be in sole control.

[Farstrider]

I see that Rodgers has been confirmed. Good luck to him! He is going to need it.

[Rappy Veteran]

I see that Rodgers has been confirmed. Good luck to him! He is going to need it.

yeah can't see him there in the long term, he struggled at Reading

[Lingwo]

It is a tough one the Liverpool job. I feel they need an experienced top manager, not someone who has had a decent run with a team. That is what happened with Hodgson and look how that turned out. Problem is with Liverpool falling down the pecking order in the PL. It means that job doesn't attract the attention it used to.

What will happen is they'll get him, they'll struggle again and he'll be fired and they'll be back to square one again. The main problem with Liverpool is they don't have the quality throughout the squad.

[Rappy Veteran]

3 year contract they are saying and he will work under directors of football in which louis van hall gaal will be one!

[jelli]

Not sure what to make of this news, I am not filled with hope though. Henderson and Downing really need to pick up over the summer window and hopefully with Lucas back from injury we could be ok. Will be an interesting time for Liverpool.

[red.]

I think Rodgers is being slightly overrated by people. Like Rappy said, he didn't have a great time while at Reading and one of the main reasons everybody is talking about him is because of the attractive football that Swansea play.

But quite a bit of that is down to the managers Paulo Sousa and especially Roberto Martinez.