Rodgers set to be Liverpool manager

Brendan Rodgers will be confirmed as the new Liverpool manager just as soon as the club's owners Fenway Sports Group agree on a compensation package with Swansea.
The 39-year-old was offered the job, believed to be on a three-year contract, after talks with FSG on Wednesday afternoon and he returned to south Wales to tell chairman Huw Jenkins he wanted to take up their offer.
It is anticipated Liverpool will have to pay between £4million and £5million as Rodgers only signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract in February.
A resolution is expected to be found within the next 24 hours with the Northern Irishman likely to be presented as successor to Kenny Dalglish on Friday.
"I was contacted by Liverpool last night and they expressed their wish to speak to Brendan regarding their vacancy," said Jenkins in a statement on Swansea's official website on Wednesday night
"I had a discussion with Brendan to talk about their interest and his views on whether he wanted to speak to Liverpool.
"He expressed his wish with me to do that and he has spoken to Liverpool today.
"Following on from discussions with Liverpool's owners, Brendan has informed us that he would like to take up their offer to manage Liverpool.
"At the moment we are currently in talks with the owners to agree compensation.
"We are trying to finalize that within the next 24 hours."
Rodgers moved ahead of Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, who held talks with Reds' principal owner John Henry in Miami last week, in the pecking order in the last couple of days.
He had initially rejected their advances 12 days ago as he did not want to become involved in a wide-ranging selection process to canvass the best available talent.
However, when it became clear FSG had narrowed down their options to two he relented and discussions were conducted swiftly.
Despite Rodgers' recently-signed contract Jenkins insisted they would not block a move to one of Europe's most decorated clubs.
"Although we are very disappointed to lose such a talented, young British manager, we didn't wish to stand in his way," added the Swans chairman.
"As always at Swansea City, we want people working here who are fully committed to the task ahead.
"We wish Brendan every success in the future. We will always remain good friends and we thank him for all his hard work and passion at this football club over the past two years.
"We shall now refocus and quickly start the process of finding his replacement to continue the great work Brendan has carried out at this football club."
It remains to be see exactly what system Rodgers will work under at Anfield as FSG were keen to split the workload of former director of football Damien Comolli, who was sacked in April.
Dutchman Louis van Gaal emerged as the leading candidate to take a sporting director role but it is known both Martinez and Rodgers had expressed a desire to have greater control of footballing affairs.
With their manager almost in place Henry and chairman Tom Werner, who will attended the Premier League's chairmen's meeting tomorrow, have to decide whether that structure can still work.
Rodgers has won many plaudits for the way Swansea played on their return to the top flight this season and while his initial link to Liverpool left fans unimpressed they appeared to have warmed to the idea in the last couple of days.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler believes Rodgers deserves his chance but has warned next season may be another testing one for the Anfield faithful.
"For what Brendan Rodgers has achieved at Swansea, he deserves huge respect," Fowler told paddypower.com.
"He's worked under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea so he knows the score and he's worked with top players.
"It'd be a massive step up for Rodgers to manage Liverpool, if he gets the job, as expected now.
"The new manager will need to bring in new players again to take Liverpool from a top-eight club to a top-four club.
"That's going to be really difficult. It's a massive challenge.
"Because the top four are going to bring in new players too and that gulf increases again.
"I have to say it, right now the 2012-13 season looks like it's going to be another difficult one for Liverpool fans."