FSG will be shocked at how quickly Klopp allowed their season to unravel. It's ok to use the media to complain about injuries, but he believes it himsef and he used it to further destabilise their season. The Americans wont look too favourably on such unprofessionalism. They'd accept no trophies but a CL spot secured. They know and plan for a team falling away from the top.
Personally, I think they'll avoid Gerrard unless they face a revolt. I dont know who'd they'd suit or take. Maybe a man with greater stature like Allegri who's available? They can see the influence Ancelotti has had here.
I think he may have got away with 1 season out of the CL given the credit he has in the bank. Mind you, going from Pearce's article a few months back, I think every Liverpool manager has it underlined to them the importance of CL. I say maybe 1 season, but the view may have bee, given the investment he has had, and the wage bill being the 5th biggest in Europe, the continuity with the squad, getting his way with Thiago etc and they were so much further ahead than the 4th placed team, that finishing no lower than 4th was a minimum. Lets put it this way, at the start of the season the stress would not have been to win the league, or to compete to win the league, but to ensure you don't fall lower than 4th (and certainly not lower than 6th/7th to miss Europa league).
I'd agree with you on the injuries chat, which is getting ramped up. Americans will see that as excuses, it's mot the American psyche to and coorporate culture to blame everyone else without taking any responsibility. It is also very clear, him constantly going on about injuries has become a self fulfilling prophecy, and they now believe they can't play without Van Dijk. He's done that. He's got obsessed with a particular unfortunate accident, and allowed his squad and himself to lose focus. They will see it as gross negligence.
I do think the comments in January, where he essentially took no ownership of the finances and threw them under the bus will be a bit of a final straw. You ally that to him wanting Koulibaly, when they haven't got the money for big marquee signings and the way he has avoided playing one of the centre backs they have bought and that he had complained about not having will again just look like poor squad management.
As for replacements, I could see them looking for a young innovative coach who specialises in working with raw "unusual" players. I could see a Graham Potter being in their thinking (very Rodgers esque). I'm sure Nagelsman will get a mention too. I think they would very much want a "coach" as opposed to a manager.
On the other names, Allegri I just can't see. He generally worked with the best resourced team in a league, and tended to play older players and sign accordingly. I don't see that one being a great fit, or them really looking at it.
Gerrard as you know I thought they'd avoid, but he had skin in the game. The campaign is on though as of this morning, and journalistic articles are now saying things like "they're very impressed with his work at Rangers". So someone in their milieu off the record is having to get that into the press they like Gerrard. That shows they feel the pressure already. I think he's a big big favourite. I'd be more worried if they went and got a Potter/Nagelsman/Tuchel type myself.
