"FSG made it clear during the summer of 2014 that they wanted Rodgers, who had established an enviable reputation as an innovative and far-sighted coach, to pass on his knowledge to Steven Gerrard. Gerrard had retired from international football because he wanted to prolong his Liverpool career. FSG recognised that Gerrard was a symbol of the club and understood the financial and sporting benefits of extending the association beyond even Gerrard’s expectations. FSG wanted Gerrard to shadow Rodgers and to learn from him. Somehow the message got lost. Negotiations for Gerrard’s Liverpool contract were delayed and when they finally did begin, Ayre was late arriving for the first meeting, which was brief. The coaching plan was only revealed to Gerrard when he’d announced his departure from Anfield for Los Angeles Galaxy. He alluded to this without really expanding upon it during a radio interview last week, ahead of the release of his second autobiography. Gerrard moved on in the summer, while Rodgers remained, but a month into the new season there is little sign of improvement for Liverpool. Bad defeats at home to West Ham and at Manchester United suggest the manager is way short of his stated aim of returning the club to the Champions League"