Jamie Carragher believes former Liverpool teammate Xabi Alonso is the favorite to exchange outgoing supervisor Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Klopp has made the shock announcement he’ll go away Liverpool on the finish of the season, admitting he’s “operating out of power” after coming into into his ninth yr in command of the membership.
Whereas former membership captain Carragher hopes the German can “exit with a bang”, consideration inevitably turns to who will likely be his successor, with Alonso and Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi the early contenders.
Carragher offers Alonso, 42, the sting as a consequence of his five-year enjoying stint at Liverpool and a formidable begin to administration with Bayer Leverkusen, who’re at the moment high of the Bundesliga, forward of Bayern Munich.
“We’re dropping one of many best managers in world soccer, one of many best managers Liverpool have ever had and it’s a unhappy day, little doubt,” Carragher instructed Sky Sports activities.
“However in the identical breath, we have to be wanting ahead to the brand new man coming in, get behind him and help him. Invoice Shankly left, Bob Paisley left, Kenny Dalglish left – and Liverpool strikes on.
“You’ll be able to’t get away from Xabi Alonso as a result of he is so revered at Liverpool already for what he did as a participant – he is a Champions League winner, held himself with actual class, he is a World Cup winner.
“Proper now, the job he is executed at Bayer Leverkusen, he seems just like the brightest younger factor in European soccer. It actually makes him the front-runner.”
Carragher, who made 737 appearances for the Reds, posted on X: “This information was at all times going to be a physique blow to the membership every time it got here.
“I simply thought it could be one other few years away. What a supervisor, what a person, let’s exit with a bang Jurgen!”
His ideas have been echoed by ex-Reds striker Michael Owen, who posted: “All nice issues inevitably come to an finish however I assumed it could be 2 or 3 years down the road. Recollections to final a lifetime. One of many best managers ever.”
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, who succeeded Klopp in 2015 when he left Borussia Dortmund forward of becoming a member of Liverpool, stated: “Kloppo is among the finest coaches of all time. He is at all times managed to affect a complete membership in any respect his golf equipment. It is big information.”
Klopp’s Manchester United counterpart Erik ten Hag hailed the “wonderful job” the German had executed on Merseyside.
