Brendan Rodgers is to stay as Liverpool manager following a meeting with the club's co-owner Tom Werner.
Werner met the 42-year-old Reds boss in the city on Tuesday as part of his end-of-season review.
Liverpool finished sixth in the Premier League last season and missed out on a place in the Champions League.
But Northern Irishman Rodgers and Werner agreed on a "comprehensive plan" aimed at ensuring performances improve next season.
Rodgers was appointed as Liverpool manager on 1 June, 2012, but admitted after the 6-1 defeat at Stoke on the final day of the season that his future was in doubt.
Speaking after that match Rodgers said: "I've always said if the owners want me to go, then I go."
Rodgers came close to a first title win in 24 years in 2014 but endured a disappointing 2014-15 season, with Liverpool failing to progress from the group stage of the Champions League.
Robin van Persie puts family first in odd Manchester United situation
Happiness of wife and children will influence any decision on future
• Striker brushes off criticism over goal record in 2014-15 season
• Striker brushes off criticism over goal record in 2014-15 season
Robin van Persie has admitted the uncertainty over his future at Manchester United is a “strange” situation and that any decision he takes will be influenced by his family’s wellbeing.
Van Persie, who will be 32 in August, has a year left on his contract. Louis van Gaal has refused to confirm the striker will be at the club next season and the manager will consider offers.
Van Persie scored only 10 goals as United finished in fourth place. While his campaign was once more disrupted by injury, Van Persie found himself behind the misfiring Radamel Falcao towards the end of the season. This completed a notable fall in his status at United. Van Persie had begun the season among the contenders to be United’s captain, having led Holland at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when Van Gaal was in charge.
Van Persie said: “It’s a strange, difficult situation. A new situation, that’s a better word. I have to think in a realistic way. It’s my ambition to play the next years. I’m thinking about my family and my children with every decision I take. These are very important for me. I’m a real family guy. I think it’s fantastic to see how happy my children and wife are. That’s something I take into consideration when I’m thinking about my future.”
Van Persie admitted his 10-goal tally was not enough, although he brushed off the criticism he received.
“That’s at least seven goals short but I think it’s a compliment people don’t accept it. Manchester United is a beast and that has two sides. Manchester United is viewed and followed by more people than at other clubs, and also more media. I have to deal with that. I made that choice and must accept the consequences,” he said.
Manchester United head queue to sign Barcelona’s right-back Dani Alves
Brazilian defender will be a free agent in the summer
• Louis van Gaal aims to add proven quality to his squad
• Louis van Gaal aims to add proven quality to his squad
Manchester United believe they are in pole position to recruit Dani Alves from Barcelona should Louis van Gaal wish to sign the right-back.
Alves becomes a free agent this summer and Barcelona are minded to allow the 32-year-old to leave after Saturday’s Champions League final against Juventus in Berlin.
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in Alves, although their coach, Laurent Blanc, believes the player intends to remain at Barcelona. However, the view at Old Trafford is that this is simply because Alves does not wish to join PSG.
Van Gaal has made signing a right-back one of his priorities. Despite Alves’s age, the lack of a transfer fee makes the defender an attractive proposition. The Brazilian earns around £120,000 a-week, a sum that United could comfortably match or improve.
Van Gaal knows the Glazers, who own the club, and Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, expect United to challenge for the Premier League title next season. There is also a demand that United do well in the FA Cup, League Cup and the Champions League. In order to satisfy the United hierarchy’s quest for silverware, Van Gaal cannot afford to take many gambles with his transfer policy. He is aiming to add proven winners to his squad. Alves, as a player who has a glittering CV and has been an integral member of Barça’s team, fits this profile.
At Barcelona, whom he joined in July 2008, the defender has won five La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, two Uefa Super Cups, the Club World Cup, three Copa del Rey and four Spanish Super Cups. When at Sevilla, Alves won the Uefa Cup twice, Super Cup, the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. With Brazil, for whom he has 79 caps, Alves won the 2007 Copa América and was in the squads for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
This pedigree means Alves could expect to slot straight into the United side and ease the pressure on Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorean became first choice in the position last year, though he is still viewed as an auxiliary option having reverted from his natural right wing berth. Although Rafael da Silva is a right-back by trade and had a campaign disrupted by injury, he lost Van Gaal’s trust because of the manager’s reservations over his defensive qualities.
Other right-backs United may consider are Everton’s Séamus Coleman and Paris Saint-Germain’s Gregory van der Wiel.
United have a two-leg Champions League tie in August to navigate in order to enter the group stage. Lazio, Sporting Lisbon, CSKA Moscow and Monaco are all potential opponents, the home and away matches to be played on 18/19 and 25/26 August.
Van Gaal wants to complete as much of his transfer business as is possible early to prepare for the tie.
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