Brendan Rodgers’ first press conference as Liverpool manager in 2012 unexpectedly disrupted the club’s plans for a sporting director. Rodgers stated that he preferred control and wouldn’t work directly with a director of football, forcing the club to abandon their search for a director of football. Instead, a transfer committee was formed, consisting of Rodgers, Ian Ayre, Michael Edwards, Dave Fallows, Barry Hunter, and Ian Graham. This compromise led to mixed results in transfers during Rodgers’ tenure.
However, after Rodgers’ departure and Jurgen Klopp’s arrival in 2015, the club’s recruitment strategy improved significantly. The transfer committee secured key players like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino, contributing to Liverpool’s Premier League title in 2020.
Source: Ian Graham’s book “How to Win the Premier League” and talkSPORT.