With Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City travelling to Anfield this weekend, Phil Thompson expects the former Liverpool manager to receive a warm welcome from the club's fans.
Four years after departing Liverpool, memories of Brendan Rodgers' tenure in charge remain tied up with the closeness of the club's 2013/14 title challenge.
Finishing two-points shy of Manchester City, Liverpool's incredibly strong form in the opening months of 2014 was ultimately undone during their memorable 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield.
A matter of weeks into the 15/16 season, however, the Northern Irish manager departed the club after failing to build upon that near success.
"I thought he did an absolutely superb job for Liverpool," stressed Phil Thompson on Friday's OTB AM. "I don't think he did a great deal wrong, he just maybe got a little bit thinking we were better than what we were and we stalled instead of pushing on.
"I would like to think, and I really hope, that Brendan gets a good reception."
In Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool found a successor for Rodgers who has delivered on the potential the current Leicester City manager promised.
Nevertheless, Phil Thompson, who spent the majority of his on and off-field career with Liverpool, believes that Rodgers' contribution should be looked upon favourably.
"He's a great coach," stated Thompson, "[and] I think he's a great motivator in his way.
"He's not the shouter and screamer that we see on the touchline, he is a little bit like Jurgen in the way he is.
"I was privy to sit down with him in his office and go through some tactics on a board when Liverpool were playing really well with Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling, and it was fascinating.
"I was watching all this unfolding, think to myself that this is really unique."
Skills that are now coming to fruition at Leicester City, Rodgers' side currently sit third in the Premier League table and could briefly overtake Manchester City with a win against Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.
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