5 backup possibilities for Liverpool to replace Jurgen Klopp as worries about Xabi Alonso surface

When Jurgen Klopp steps down at the conclusion of the season, Liverpool will need to find a manager to take over, and they may need to go beyond their top contender, Xabi Alonso.

It appears that Liverpool encountered an issue in the early phases of their hunt for the ideal replacement for Jurgen Klopp.

The top candidate was soon revealed to be Xabi Alonso, although he has since removed himself from the position in order to focus on guiding Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title challenge. Alonso only joined Leverkusen in October 2022 and is already making waves in his first first-team coaching post. After leading his team to a resounding 3-0 victory over Thomas Tuchel’s squad over the weekend, they are already five points ahead of Bayern Munich.

He has brushed off rumours, saying he is content where he is, and his sporting director, Simon Rolfes, is very optimistic he will stay until the summer. “The contract is one [reason],” he stated. The fact that he is aware of his belongings in the club and feels at ease with his family and himself is another factor. He also has an excellent team, and there won’t be any changes to the group for next year, so we should have a great outlook.

“Next year, we will undoubtedly have a strong squad at our disposal. These are all things that coaches like Xabi, as well as players that [draw] interest, frequently keep with us in addition to contracts.” As things now seem to be going, Alonso might want to stay put and finish out his contract, which runs until June 2026, if he does win the Bundesliga.

Liverpool will have to find someone else in that case, therefore Mirror Football has looked at five options.

Pep Lijnders

One choice gives Klopp continuity. The Dutchman Lijnders began working as a coach for Liverpool in 2014. He left the team for a short time in 2018 to take over NEC in his native country, but he soon returned. Throughout his career, the 41-year-old has been Klopp’s right-hand man and has received high recognition from the manager himself.

Pep Lijnders was unquestionably the most important player in this club over the past few years, according to Klopp’s recent comments. “He performed an absolutely outstanding job. He is an incredible source of motivation for me.

The sole issue is that Lijnders has made his departure known, much like Klopp. “Leaving such a club is not easy,” Lijnders said. However, I believe that in life you must always make the correct decision. This summer, we decided to carry on and give it our best; we called it “the Last Dance,” and we made it seem like a fitting conclusion. Lijnders is moving on to take a supervisory position somewhere else. If Liverpool were to extend a job offer to him, he could maybe realise his dreams there.

Zerbi Roberto

If Liverpool called, Brighton would probably be able to stop De Zerbi from going for Merseyside, but they would still have something to say about it. The Italian is a guy of ambition, so the opportunity to advance would undoubtedly tempt him.

De Zerbi would be a good substitute because he shares some of Klopp’s personality attributes, such as his unbridled energy, determination to win, and passion for the game. But this season, his performance with Brighton has wavered, and his somewhat unpredictable rotation in the starting lineup is cause for concern.

He remarked of Klopp last month, “I am very sad, we are losing one of the best coaches in the world.” I enjoy his personality because of his character and vitality. The Premier League will not benefit if he moves leagues.

Ruben Amorim

The Spanish media has reported that Barcelona has shortlisted the Sporting Lisbon coach to take over for departing Xavi Hernandez in the summer, making him a wanted man. Given the interest in recruiting him, Amorim apparently has a €30 million (£25 million) release clause; nevertheless, this is unlikely to deter prestigious clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona.

The 39-year-old has been in charge of Sporting since March 2020, and he has an extremely stellar record, having won 134 of his 192 games to far. In just his first full season, he guided Sporting to their first Liga Portugal title in 19 years, going on a 32-match unbeaten streak in the process. For this reason, he is held in high regard in Portugal.

As a former player, he places emphasis on his players’ tactical innovation and understanding of the game. It is highly likely that Amorim will soon secure a prominent position outside of Portugal, provided Liverpool beats out other contenders.

Graham Potter

Potter’s work with Brighton made him the Premier League’s flavour of the month not too long ago. Chelsea pursued the English coach, paying £21.5 million to bring him and his staff on board in September 2022.

He had limited chance of success at Chelsea because of their high expectations and lack of tolerance. However, he’s still associated with a return to management, so there’s hope that he can succeed in the right position going forward.

However, managing egos and all the baggage that comes with playing for a major club was one of Potter’s biggest problems at Chelsea. One of the most important things Liverpool’s management must think about is if he has the charisma necessary to succeed Klopp.

Zinedine Zidane

Since stepping down as Real Madrid manager for the second time in May 2021, Zidane has been connected to numerous positions. According to reports, he has been waiting for the ideal part and has turned down offers from the US and Brazil.

Despite looking like an unlikely pick for Liverpool, he is clearly a winner, having won three Champions League crowns with Real Madrid in addition to two La Liga trophies. As the club’s manager, he has an outstanding record of 174 victories from 263 games; the question is, will he be able to carry that success to another club? Liverpool will research the player and decide if he is a suitable fit.