
Liverpool's U.S. owners finally lost patience with manager Brendan Rodgers, who had been appointed in the summer of 2012, sacking the Northern Irishman Sunday after the 1-1 draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is the early favorite to succeed Rodgers at Anfield.

Carlo Ancelotti, who has coached AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, has also been linked with the vacant Liverpool job.

Rodgers had to content with the departure of a number of key players, notably Steven Gerrard, who is pictured waving to the Anfield faithful at the end of his final home match as a permanent Liverpool player in May.

Luis Suarez scored 31 league goals during the 2013-2014 season as Liverpool came close to winning the English Premier League, but then left to join Barcelona.

After Liverpool finished sixth last season, Raheem Sterling also departed as the England international signed for Manchester City.

One of the criticisms of Liverpool and Rodgers during his tenure as manager has been the club's relative success in the transfer market, which has arguably been more miss than hit. Perhaps Mario Balotelli's less than productive season at Anfield -- he scored just one league goal -- best sums up that failure.

Liverpool last won the English league in 1990.