Brendan Rodgers

[Phoenix07]

Liverpool have NOT opened talks with Brendan Rodgers about a new contract.

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that reports the Kop boss is on the verge of agreeing a new deal are inaccurate and that the Irishman is now likely to wait until the end of the season before negotiations about extending his stay at the Anfield giants begin.

Rodgers only has 18 months left on his current deal. But the agreement also includes the option of a further one-year extension - and that means both parties are happy to wait until the summer before hammering our new terms.

Rodgers is more anxious about cash being made available by the club’s American owners to bankroll three January signings. The Liverpool manager has transformed the Reds into genuine top-four contenders with a net summer spend of around £15million.

But he believes he can have a genuine tilt at the title if owner John W Henry releases the funds to recruit two defenders and a wide midfielder during next month’s transfer window.

Rodgers has put Sevilla playmaker Ivan Rakitic at the top of his winter wish-list, although Liverpool would only be willing to pay a third of the Croatian’s £33million buy-out clause.

Rodgers said: “We have to go into every window and see where we can improve.

“I have spoken to some of the coaches and told them that we have built the house and now we have to decorate the inside. That will take a bit of time.

“We have targets but it goes back to the availability and if they’re affordable.”

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Liverpool owner John W Henry has put contract talks with Brendan Rodgers on his New Year agenda, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

The Boston-based Anfield supremo and chairman Tom Werner have been delighted with Liverpool’s astonishing progress this term under 40-year-old Rodgers – and are keen to re-negotiate his contract before the season ends.

Rodgers has 18 months left on his three-year deal with the Reds and although Henry’s Fenway Sports Group have the option of another year on top of that term, the American owners will be keen to start negotiations.

That could be towards the end of the season once the club know where they are going to finish or even during the summer.

Ulsterman Rodgers is relaxed about the process and is in no hurry to force any issues over his contract.

Unlike former boss Rafa Benitez and previous American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, Rodgers has a warm working relationship with FSG and wants to continue their progress.

And he hinted Liverpool could be busy in next month’s transfer market with a central defender, left-back and left winger on his wish list.

On Saturday, Rodgers said: “I talked to some of the coaches and said that we’ve built the house – and now we have to decorate the inside.

“That will take a bit of time to do. We have targets in mind once the January window opens, but it goes back to the availability and if they’re affordable.”

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[The_weatherman]

Erm......I´m confused.....

[RichC]

As it appears are the Mirror

[Daniel 7]

Those chapped lips look painful

[McDermotX]

Those chapped lips look painful

Agreed.

By far the most important issue.

[Daniel 7]

Maybe it was lip distraction that made him bring on Smith instead of Alberto

[Shaggy]

He's getting most things right but I wish Brendan had let rip after the match. **** the consequences. We're still too soft.

[Phoenix07]

He's getting most things right but I wish Brendan had let rip after the match. **** the consequences. We're still too soft.

If he did it in quick succession, there is danger that he'd be accused of sour grapes.

We'd know he was right, but the thick arseholes in this country who don't bother about the context will just see a manager mouthing off about the referees after two defeats, and unfortunately, these arseholes work for the FA.

[G]

Genuinely baffled by that,He's getting a charge either way after City so may as well go all guns blazing. To be fair though we've tried both approaches before under both Kenny and Brendan and neither changes ref's approaches to us.

Bringing Smith on was political and at the same time silly cos he had his own £6m signing sat on the bench and ignored him.

Unless he was signed by the "committee"

[Frenchie]

If he did it in quick succession, there is danger that he'd be accused of sour grapes.

We'd know he was right, but the thick arseholes in this country who don't bother about the context will just see a manager mouthing off about the referees after two defeats, and unfortunately, these arseholes work for the FA.

Harness it internally and use it to motivate...

[pondus]

He's getting most things right but I wish Brendan had let rip after the match. **** the consequences. We're still too soft.

[BigChief]

Not sure why Brendan is getting grief for bringing Smith on. Personally I don't think Smith has what it takes to make it with us judging from his youth performances (he's good, but doesn't have the Sterling/Ibe X-Factor).

But I digress, Brendan chose to give a youngster a chance in the deep end. If he performs, great for his confidence. If he doesn't he learns a lot of lessons to take back to the U21s.

Also gives a signal for others (Wisdom, Ngoo, Suso, Mclaughlin, Ibe and Rossiter) that LFC still plays their youth. So work even harder now.

[john316]

Saw a few people seeing it as a message from Rodgers to FSG to illustrate the lack of squad depth.

[Muddled]

Can't see it being that well thought out to be honest.

I think Rodgers wanted Coutinho to be more central and wanted a left footer to provide the width in a position that wasn't going to result in a young player being responsible for much.

[danperkins]

Coutinho has been so wasteful this season... out left he is very ineffective. His final ball has been poor this season. Superb talent but just not playing to his best at the moment.