Rodgers has transformed Liverpool FC

In the summer of 2012, the LFC boss gave the owners a 180-page document - here's the ECHO's dossier on how he turned around the Reds Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers In terms of an interview, it was more impressive than any other. When Brendan Rodgers met with Liverpool's owners, he presented a document, 180 pages long, which blueprinted the future of the club. The plan was enough to nix the idea of a sporting director, with total control given to the Northern Irishman. The document's impressiveness was matched by its detail – he started writing it 15 years previous – and included his vision for the club. Upon joining Liverpool, Rodgers said: “I presented to them a document on the culture, philosophy and game plan going forward. “It’s a model, a short cut to how I work, the kind of players I want tactically and the personality traits of players. Also my thoughts on the Academy and how we move forward. “The vision is simple. Firstly, to win the most trophies we can. That’s the bigger picture. “The second is to play attractive, attacking football to win games. The third is to bring through as many of the young players as we possibly can.” How precious that document seems now, with Liverpool top of the Premier League and with its destiny in their hands. Four wins will see a 24-year wait potentially over – just 12 months after finishing 28 points behind champions Manchester United. There is no telling what those 180 pages contained, but the pages seem to be etched in gold. The Reds are playing attractive, attacking football – amongst the best in Europe, in fact – and the ascension of Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, Joe Allen and Jon Flanagan reflects on how well the young players have been brought through, whether from within the club or elsewhere. Just how has Rodgers transformed the team – and club – in such a short space of time? Over his two seasons at the club, he averages 1.92 points a game, with this season bringing 2.26 points per game. In the three seasons previous, Liverpool won an average of 1.52 points per game, emphasising the incredible turnaround Rodgers has brought. Few people know what was in Rodgers' document, but here is one of our own: the five ways Brendan Rodgers reversed the fortunes of Liverpool Football Club. Making big decisions from the start Rodgers' task was not restricted to making the team winners on the pitch, but making the club healthier off it, too. He took charge of an ageing squad which swelled the wage bill over its desired limit, with a number of popular players over 30. That included the attacking trio of Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Maxi Rodriguez, who made a combined 102 appearances in the previous season. He also oversaw the sale of Alberto Aquilani and Charlie Adam, as well as loaning out Jay Spearing to Bolton. Of the players that departed that summer who featured regularly for the Reds the prior season, the average age came to 28-years-old. The players brought in – not including the increased utilisation of Raheem Sterling, Suso and Jonjo Shelvey – possessed an average age younger than 22-years-old. He also allowed Andy Carroll to leave on loan, throwing desires for the striker to be 'Plan B' into chaos. Even though it left the Reds short up front until the arrival of Daniel Sturridge, Rodgers knew what he wanted, and sought to implement it straight away. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers talks to Andy CarrollLiverpool manager Brendan Rodgers talks to Andy Carroll Willingness to change system and style But Rodgers has also been willing to adapt his style of football, particularly this season. He came to Anfield accompanied by a huge clamour to signpost and stick down what his football was. What he's ultimately offered is something the majority of the league cannot contend with; Europe should take warning while it can. There were buzzwords galore surrounding the start of Rodgers' reign – death by football, resting on the ball, tiki-taka – which brought pre-conceived ideas about how he wanted his sides to play football. But with results not at the desired standard, and with the arrival of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, he tweaked the system. The Reds are now more direct and purposeful with every kick, spending less time on the ball and focusing on creating clear-cut opportunities. Last season, Liverpool averaged 432 passes a game, while this season averages 417 passes. It is not a big change, but a significant one, with home games against Arsenal and Everton demonstrating the usefulness in finding intelligent runs with quick balls. Liverpool have less possession compared to last season, but have become far more clinical in front of goal, with a shot accuracy of 44% (13th in the league) becoming 50% (second in the league), while a higher percentage of shots are taken inside the area, showing how they not only create chances, but good chances. That is not to say the Reds have altered their style completely, but instead modified slightly. There are still remnants of the type of football most expected upon his arrival, particularly during the first equaliser against Cardiff, with the build-up containing 24 passes and lasting over a minute. Liverpool have developed their style of playLiverpool have developed their style of play Development of young players It's August 2012 and the future has been revealed. Liverpool are leading the 2013/14 title race with a team containing Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan. After a quick wipe of the crystal ball, scenarios begin. Perhaps Henderson is used as a player to solidify the midfield when a lead needs to be held onto, the legs of the operation; maybe Sterling, with 25 league minutes under his slender belt, would be the wild card off the bench against tiring defences. As for Flanagan, then every title-winning side needs a local lad around the dressing room with the odd appearance here and there. Few would have guessed Henderson would be the most-used player in the squad, a crucial axis on which the entire team revolves; even fewer would have thought Sterling, at 19, would become one of the league's best players as an English trequartista. Flanagan, too, is a no-nonsense full back with a shimmy or two in his locker, the first-choice left back of the team. A large portion of this is because of the boss. Granted, Henderson, Sterling and Flanagan have all showed the application and desire to improve – but it is Rodgers who has developed them. Henderson has made 60 key passes this season – just five short of the total in his previous two combined. Sterling now successfully dribbles more than last season (an average of 2.6 per game compared to 1.9) and is dispossessed far less (now an average of 1.8 times a game compared to 2.7), while adding five more goals. Flanagan wins double the amount of tackles as he did in 2011/12, makes more interceptions and commits fewer fouls. It is not just these three, of course. He has given Daniel Sturridge the platform to become a 20-goal striker, while giving Philippe Coutinho the keys to the city and allowed him to do as he pleases in central midfield. That's Coutinho, a five foot seven Brazilian of slender build, playing central midfield in the Premier League. Rodgers' methods in developing the youngsters has been bold, even bringing on Joao Carlos Teixeira for his debut as their title challenge hung in the balance at Fulham. He made Henderson a key fixture after an impressive showing off the bench against Wigan in November 2012, but also knew how to refocus Sterling and Sturridge after bright starts faded. Allowing great players to play great football Hard to believe, but the Reds scored just 47 league goals in the season before Brendan Rodgers arrived. They reached that target this season by January, during their 5-3 win against Stoke, with 17 games still to play. Goalscoring seems a fairly simplistic addition but its make-up has been anything but. With Luis Suarez missing for the first five games (indeed, his presence at all is another thing Rodgers should take credit for), his return was met with fears over how he and Daniel Sturridge would fit into the same system. Those fears have since been proved unfounded, with Liverpool playing football that not only gets the best out of themselves and each other, but those who supply them too. It allows good players to play good football. Personnel has helped, of course. In the 21 league games before Sturridge's arrival last season, the Reds averaged 1.62 goals per game; in the following 17 games, aided by the bonus of Coutinho's signature, that moved up to 2.18 per game. This season has seen it rocket even higher, breaking the Reds' top-flight record of 92 goals, averaging a barely-believable 2.74 a game. But it isn't just about putting the ball in the net. The high tally of goals reflects on how Rodgers has found a system, and a style of play, to bring every last bit of potential out of his resources. Suarez now plays with more awareness of what's around him, while Sturridge's runs provide both a goal threat and space for team-mates to operate in. Behind them, Sterling, Coutinho and Henderson have become creative forces. The Reds are now even proficient from set-pieces, scoring from 11 corners and 11 free kicks – far better than last season's tally of six corners and five free kicks. It shows how Rodgers has sought to make the most of any advantage he can. Moving Steven Gerrard deeper On the surface, moving Steven Gerrard into a deeper role – which he has played in since the trip to Stoke in January - has had little effect on how he plays the game. He is still as committed off the ball and still as cultured on it. In fact, in the 16 games before his move as the deepest-lying midfielder, his passing accuracy was marginally better, while also – understandably – creating more chances. To counteract that, he has scored more goals – albeit a number of them dead balls – and improved his shooting accuracy. But it is about more than that. By pushing Gerrard deeper, Rodgers shifted the entire shape of the midfield, allowing those ahead of him the freedom to engage in high pressing and the interchange that has bamboozled defences ever since. It also allows Gerrard to supply from deep with his excellent long-range passing. It also places him central to everything Liverpool do – a true captain's role in which his influence is never far from being felt. He is close enough to defenders to tell them to calm, and close enough to midfielders to tell instruct accordingly. He is the heartbeat of the team, both off the pitch, and now on it – and he has relished the title charge, putting in immense performances on a weekly basis. Steven Gerrard celebrates after scoring the first goal for Liverpool against West HamSteven Gerrard celebrates after scoring the first goal for Liverpool against West Ham