Not-so-happy birthday for Liverpool

June 3 marks the anniversary of the day in 1892 that world-famous club Liverpool FC was legally established. Many fans at Anfield were in no mood for singing 'Happy Birthday' Wednesday.

It follows the decision of the American owners of the Premiership club to retain under-fire Brendan Rodgers as manager, despite a lacklustre season.

Many supporters had been predicting, some hoping, Rodgers would be given the boot at an end of season 'showdown' with owners, Fenway Sports Group, who also own the Boston Red Socks.

Liverpool finished sixth in the 2014/2015 season, just about managing a consolation place in the Europa League, a lowly contest compared with the prized European Champions League.

As hundreds of fans made clear their feelings on social media, the Liverpool Echo, the city's main newspaper posed a question to owners FSG; the fans need to know the reasons for the decision to stick with Rodgers?

His season could not have ended on such a low, with the final game seeing legendary captain Steven Gerrard playing his last match ever in an LFC shirt, and the team he led going down 6-1 to middling Stoke City in the worst defeat for over 50 years.

That thrashing led many fans to believe Rodgers had no chance of survival at Anfield.

Echo sports commentator Neil Jones wrote: "From the shouters and screamers across social media, to the more measured members of the fanbase, everyone has their opinion. There's a genuine split.

"Plenty see FSG's decision as an error, an acceptance of failure and mediocrity after this most disappointing of campaigns.

"Others, though, will admire FSG's courage. The easiest thing to do after a failure, after all, is to pick a fall-guy, but one man is seldom solely responsible, and the Americans have shown before that they will not be unduly swayed by outside pressure ... now, though, they are facing serious questions from supporters. And on this occasion, it might just be in their interests to explain their decision."

Since June 3, 1892 Liverpool has won 41 major honors, including 18 league titles and five European Cups - making Liverpool FC the most successful club in English football.

Many fans are already fear that number will still be 41 at the end of the coming season.

On the Echo's website one fan 'Dave' wrote: "we will struggle big time and I for one who has supported this club for over 50 years am a broken hearted man, this idiot will kill this club without Gerrard to pull us through anything will be gone forever." Endi