This weeken is bigger for Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers than any other manager

Brendan Rodgers's position at Liverpool has never felt quite as precarious as it does now. The Merseysiders have struggled to fill the massive void left after the disbandment of the SAS; Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Daniel Sturridge to the treatment table and, more recently, Raheem Sterling to Manchester City. The goals have dried up and the mood at Anfield has darkened.
Two seasons ago, the Reds hit three figures for goals scored – just two shy of the record set by Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea. Now they have hit three figures for days since they last scored more than once in a game (against a relegated QPR in May), have been outscored by, among others, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Watford, and the spectre of the out-of-work Ancelotti is looming large.
It is not the first time that Rodgers has felt the breath of another manager creeping up his neck. Ahead of last season's FA Cup semi-final, speculation swirled that Fenway Sport Group were already eyeing Jurgen Klopp, who had dramatically decided to leave Borussia Dortmund. Rodgers and Liverpool were beaten by Aston Villa at Wembley and his job security has been fragile ever since.
Now he takes on that same opponent, though Tim Sherwood's side have themselves struggled in the aftermath of losing their own talisman (to Liverpool, ironically), and still FSG are thought to be mulling over a replacement, this time Ancelotti. Unlike Klopp and his disastrous final season at BVB, though, the Italian's stock is still high and he brings the expertise and gravitas the American owners have always wanted.
After so many poor showings and having almost been embarrassed by League Two's Carlisle in the League Cup, Rodgers is fast running out of credit. He needs points, he needs goals, and he needs them fast.