Brendan Rodgers has emerged as Manchester United’s preferred candidate to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United chiefs accept a change of manager is required and they have identified Rodgers as the most suitable choice.
But with a contract with Leicester City until June 2023, securing Rodgers would not be straightforward.
HIs links with Liverpool have also seen his suitability for the role called into question having been in charge of Manchester United ’s arch rivals between 2012 and 2015.
Gary Neville is amongst those to have debated whether Rodgers and United would be the right fit due to his history at Anfield.
Yet Rodgers regularly made his feelings on United clear whilst in charge of the Reds - and the feelings were overwhelmingly respectful.
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When Rodgers first managed Liverpool at Old Trafford, a 2-1 defeat in January 2013, the Northern Irishman labelled United as a “benchmark”.
“There was great encouragement today for the group,” he said. “A lot of young players making their debuts here at Old Trafford.
“This is a club that’s been the benchmark. We’ve got to make sure we’re now fighting, which we are, to claw that difference back.
“Days like today, we’ll learn from even though we didn’t get the result.”
Just a few months later, when his side won against United at Anfield, he echoed the same sentiment and referenced the “winning culture” that exists at Old Trafford.
“It’s a great win for our belief,” Rodgers said. “Last season we drew too many of the big games, and obviously against Manchester United we lost both games. Both tight games, but we lost.
“I think today was another marker for us in our momentum. It’s a terrific win. I thought Man United played well, they passed it well at times, but it was just about our resolve.
“That’s what you’d expect, Man United are the champions and the culture at their club is a winning culture.
“They were never, at 1-0, going to lie down. We had to really dig deep into our resolve with young players out there getting the experience in games of this level for us.”
Old Trafford was the backdrop for one of Rodgers’ finest moments as Liverpool manager, a 3-0 win as they chased the Premier League title in March 2014.
“We knew we respected Manchester United as the club and the team that they are,” he said at full-time. "A wonderful team, but we had confidence and belief coming here that we could get a result.”
However, it was a crushing defeat at Old Trafford in September 2015 which paved the way for him to be replaced by Jurgen Klopp.
Before that game, however, there was still time for one more respectful nod to the club he could now end up managing.
Asked if Old Trafford was a venue for his side to prove themselves, he replied: “No question. Absolutely no question.
“It is one of the biggest arenas in this league and our big rivals. So we want to go and get the result, and they have the talent there, and the focus is there.
“It’s a huge game for this club, it’s the greatest derby game in the history of our league. It can be massive in terms of giving a psychological boost.”
Clearly, Rodgers’ history as a former Liverpool manager is something that will not be popular with all Manchester United fans if he succeeds Solskjaer.
But his attitude towards the Red Devils when he was in charge of their biggest rivals makes it clear he has always had a great deal of respect for United and their achievements.
