It is the summer of 2012 and Brendan Rodgers is on the outfield grass at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Kenny Moore Youth Jersey . The Liverpool manager has been in the job two months but already he knows the weight the clubs crest on his shirt carries. It is a weight he tries to ease with every careful word that leaves his mouth and lands on the newspaper pages back home. Rodgers approaches the fence to say hello to the some passionate Liverpool supporters. "Are we going to win the league this year?" asks one. The new boss ducks the question with a smile. He, more than most, knows exactly what he has inherited. For a club like Liverpool this is rock bottom. It is the first time in the Premier League era that Liverpool have finished outside of the top four in three successive seasons. The previous season, under Kenny Dalglish, the Reds achieved their fewest amount of wins in a Premier League campaign, winning just 14 of 38 games on their way to an eighth place finish. They scored just 24 home goals in that 2011-12 campaign, their lowest amount since 1903-04. In the two seasons under Roy Hodgson and Dalglish, Liverpool lost 21 of 38 away league matches. During that time they spent over 100 million pounds on players called Andy Carroll, Raul Meireles, Christian Poulsen, Jonjo Shelvey, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jose Enrique, Sebastian Coates and Danny Wilson. Many of these average, overpriced players stood just yards away from Rodgers on the Fenway grass and if he really wanted to give an answer to such a ludicrous question all he would have needed to do was open up his arms and nod his head in their direction. It is August 18th, 2012 and the club is at The Hawthorns for a game against West Bromwich Albion to start their first season under Rodgers. There is evidence of a change in style as a scoreless game gets close to half-time but then Zoltan Gera blasts a screamer into the top corner and Rodgers is forced to make his first half-time team talk as a losing manager. It goes from bad to worse in the second half as Daniel Agger is sent off and Liverpool lose 3-0. "Well have more days like this, thats the reality," said Rodgers after the game. It is August 26th, 2012 and eight days after their opening day loss the Reds are at home against the champions, Manchester City. They take the lead twice but are forced to take a point when central defender Martin Skrtel, attempting to play the way Rodgers desires, keeps the ball too long and plays a mistimed back pass to his goalkeeper, one that is intercepted by Carlos Tevez who scores to make it 2-2. The Being: Liverpool cameras follow Rodgers after the match and once again he chooses words carefully, but this time shows just how much he is aware of Liverpools plight. "We are at the beginning of a process where we hope to build to make this club competitive again. People have asked me are we going to win the league? It is ridiculous to even say that. All of that takes time, hours. I came here not because it was an easy job, but because it was an extremely difficult job." Rodgers would be proved correct. Liverpool would score more than one goal in just four of their opening 15 games of last season. It is the last week in March 2013 and Steven Gerrard places the ball on the penalty spot at Villa Park. The England captain blasts home the winning goal to give the Reds their fourth win in their last five games. In the 13 league games after Christmas they have scored 32 goals after netting just 23 in the first 17 matches. There is a resilience about the group, featuring intelligent pressure on the ball, a cohesion to their attack and an aggressive tempo to their style, particularly in their passing and defensive game, that never existed under Dalglish. "People have said we have turned the corner but I dont think were at the corner yet, weve still got a long way to go," said Rodgers that day at Villa Park. Five clean sheets in their last seven games of the season helped Liverpool finish on 61pts in seventh spot. They had moved up just one spot than the previous year under Dalglish but the table didnt tell the full story of progression. In the first half of the season they had scored 28 goals and claimed 25pts. They were a team on pace to finish 8th/9th with a total in the low 50s. They fell behind ten times and came from behind to win just once, losing six. In the second half of the season they had scored 43 goals and claimed 36pts. They were a team that would have finished in the top four with a total in the 70s over a full season. They fell behind nine times and came from behind three times, losing just twice. It is August 2013 inside Anfield and a buoyant crowd is excited for the opening day of a new season. Unlike the year previous, the schedule makers have been kind to Rodgers and his team. Seven of their first eight opponents didnt finish in the top half of the league last season. Their first opponents, Stoke City, are one of them but after a thoroughly dominating performance, the Reds are up by a single goal to nil in the final minute when the visitors are awarded a penalty. It is only game one of 38, spread across ten months, but new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet makes the biggest save he will make all season and another Rodgers signing, Daniel Sturridge, scores the game winner. It is now, well and truly, a team molded by Rodgers. The manager, known to hold back on predictions and grand statements, has no such reservations about Sturridge: "I think he can be one of the top scorers in the league this year." How right he was. With Luis Suarez suspended, the former Manchester City and Chelsea striker scores in each of the clubs first four games to lay a foundation for the team to build on. The Reds would lose just two of their first 17 matches before suffering back-to-back narrow defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea in the span of four days. In 13 Premier League games in January, February and March, Liverpool went on to win 11 and draw two. They arrived for their game at West Ham on Sunday as, by far, the best team in the league for over three months. It is the first Sunday in April. The Upton Park pitch is playing slow and Liverpools style isnt working as well as it has in previous weeks. Rodgers makes another tactical adjustment and the versatility his team has shown so often this season comes to the forefront once again. Liverpool finds another way to win another type of football match. As night falls on Merseyside the team arrives home knowing just how close they are to achieving the impossible dream. Five games to go and still they lead this enthralling Premiership race. In April 2012, one of the most iconic sports franchises was on their knees with a pathetic 46pts through 33 matches. Down the stretch they lost to West Brom, Fulham and Swansea. It is little wonder Rodgers is the calmest man in this title race. Not even he imagined all of this would come so soon. There is no award for man of the year in English football but it is, without question, Rodgers who deserves such an honor. That question, that once seemed so ridiculous, that one that Rodgers laughed off, is no longer funny. He may continue to not answer it but deep down he now knows the answer. Liverpool cannot just win the Premier League, the way they are playing they should win it. Five games to go to complete one of the biggest turnarounds English football has ever witnessed. Marvin Harrison Youth Jersey . Omar Rahou made the discriminatory gesture several times while celebrating scoring a goal against Romania at Antwerp in January, UEFA said. The sanction was double the five-match ban Nicolas Anelka received from an English Football Association independent tribunal last week for the same act. Pat McAfee Womens Jersey . A last-minute leveler ensured the two-time defending champion remained nine points ahead of Roma, which drew 0-0 at bitter rival Lazio in the capital derby. http://www.coltsofficialstore.us/authentic-pat-mcafee-colts-jersey/ . Ending a nine-game losing streak? That gave the Milwaukee Bucks veteran forward a reason to smile.VANCOUVER -- Striker Kenny Miller wants to make the most of his seemingly limited time left with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Miller, a former Scottish international slated to become a free agent under a quirky contract that expires at mid-season, hopes to start Saturday in the second of back-to-back games with the Los Angeles Galaxy at B.C. Place Stadium. He was deployed as a second-half substitute in the opening encounter last weekend in Carson, Calif. You can watch all the action on TSN beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. "Obviously, its disappointing for any professional to sit and watch," said Miller. "You want to go on that field and you want to be helping the team out and you want to be in a position where you can influence the game. "If you sit and watch, its really frustrating, because you cant do that." The Whitecaps (2-2-2) lost 1-0 to the Galaxy (2-1-1) last weekend. Not only does Vancouver want to avenge that loss but also earn its first victory in three games. Millers presence in the starting lineup could come in handy because he leads the team in scoring with three goals and one assist in six appearances. Coach Carl Robinson used Miller as a substitute last weekend to rest and refresh the 34-year-old Edinburgh native. Miller, who came on in the 70th minute, didnt take kindly to the move. "I want to play every minute of every game," said Miller. "I dont want to come off. I dont want to sit on the bench. "I want to play every game. Hes paid to make the decisions and thats the decision he made, so youve got to accept it." Miller had off-season knee surgery, and Robinson, who is in his first season as Vancouvers head coach after two as an assistant, made it known early in the season hed rest older veterans, especially in road games. Captain Jay DeMerit stayed home for a road game against New England. But Miller doesnt see a need to rest for health reasons, contending hes "probably the fittest" he has felt since joining the Whitecaps midway through the 2012 season. If Miller does start, as expected, hell probably line up in a two-striker formation with Darren Mattocks rather than a lone-striker setup the club has used in the past. Robinson believes Miller and Mattocks play better inside rather than with one out on the wing. The Whitecaps have only one win -- a 3-1 home decision last season - in nine MLS meetings with the Galaxy. Robinson liked how his team played defensively last weekend, but wants it to produce more scoring chances against an L.A. team he feels has "an aura" because it has won two of the past three MLS championships. If Miller does get more playing time, it could eventually help his chances of re-signing with Vancouver. Robinson, a former teammate of Miller with Wolverhampton in England, is looking for Miller to make an impact before the club offers him a contract extension. Vancouver signed Miiller to a rare six-month extension last October. Johnny Unitas Womens Jersey. In accordance with FIFA rules, he is now eligible to negotiate with other teams and has instructed his agents to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Despite persistent reports last year the striker wanted to rejoin his former Glasgow Rangers squad, Miller has insisted he wants to remain a Whitecap. But he and the club havent started formal contract talks. "Theres nothing, theres no update," he said. "On June 30, the contract runs out. Until then, if they dont see it differently, thats when its done. "Six months ago, they knew what the situation was going to be and we just get on with that. The club, of they want to talk, then Ill talk. If they dont, then we dont." In the meantime, Miller plays on -- at Robinsons discretion, with the Vancouver coach not offering any confirmation if Miller would start against L.A. Robinson said Millers playing time will depend on factors heading into each game between now and June 30. His minutes wont be cut to give young players more action in preparation for his departure. "A decision wont be based upon any contractual status," said Robinson. "Itll be based on who I think will win us that game, and then (June 30), well see where we go." Robinson admitted he was "sitting on the fence" on Millers status, adding he has already devised a plan with coaches and management based on this year and next. Dealing with Millers contract deadline will mark the first step in the plan. But Miller isnt the only veteran looking to reclaim his starting position. Midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker is anxious to play after sitting out the past three games. He missed the first two contests due to a concussion suffered in a freak off-field collision with a bicycle rack but was a healthy scratch last weekend in L.A. Robinson said Reo-Coker has trained the right way this week, but the English midfielder contended he needs game action to stay at his sharpest. "The best form of fitness is games," said Reo-Coker. But working against Reo-Coker is defensive midfielder Matias Labas return following a one-game suspension for receiving a red card against Colorado on April 5. Robinson was also pleased with the performance of central midfielders Gershon Koffie and Russell Teibert and suggested theyll be called on again. Teibert, a Niagara Falls, Ont., native, drew Robinsons praise for his aggressive marking of famed Galaxy striker Robbie Keane, who leads L.A. with three goals and an assist this season. Robinson noted Teibert "got under (Keanes) skin." The Vancouver coach and Keane have also been known to exchange unpleasantries on the field --but not for long. Theyve been close since they were teenage teammates with Wolverhampton in the mid-1990s. "We do go way back," said Robinson. "But for 90 minutes, hes not my friend." ' ' '