Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher insisted that former midfielder Xabi Alonso is the front-runner to replace Jurgen Klopp at the Merseyside club.
Klopp announced on Friday that he will leave Liverpool at the end of this season as he is “running out of energy” after nine years in charge.
Rumours have started to fly on who would be Liverpool’s next boss but as of now, the conversation is leaning towards former club midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who may be open to leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season.
Similarly, Carragher believed that being a former Liverpool player and the respect he has gained from all over the world, Alonso remains the favourite to lead the club next season.
“I think right now, if you look around the Premier League and Europe and you think who fits Liverpool, there is no doubt you cannot get away from Xabi Alonso, a former team-mate of mine,” Carragher said.
“It's because he is so respected at Liverpool for what he did as a player, he is a Champions League winner, has always held himself with real class, he's a World Cup winner - and that's just his playing side.”
Throughout his career, Alonso had the chance to play under some of the best managers of the last 20-25 years and their guidance has worked quite well for the Spaniard as he is leading Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title.
“You think of the managers he has worked under, Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and all of these great figures.
“And right now with the job he is doing at Bayer Leverkusen, he almost looks like the brightest young thing in European football, there is no doubt about that,” he said.
“I would certainly say the frontrunner, and I think it's too rich me saying it, would certainly be Xabi Alonso - for the job he is doing at Bayer Leverkusen, who are still the only undefeated team in Europe in all competitions.