Jurgen Klopp has already teased Liverpool’s next manager to replace Arne Slot | Football | Sport

Jurgen Klopp spent years dodging questions about who might replace him at Liverpool. Nevertheless, he had already made one matter crystal clear. Well before revealing his departure during the 2023/2024 season, Klopp publicly declared his belief that Steven Gerrard would eventually occupy the manager’s position, despite the Reds icon having previously shared his views on taking charge at Liverpool.

His backing can be traced to December 2021, when Gerrard was managing Aston Villa and preparing for his maiden return to Anfield as an opposing manager. When questioned directly about whether the former Liverpool skipper could become the Reds’ future boss, Klopp responded without hesitation. “Oh yes I do, absolutely,” Klopp declared at the time. “I believe it will definitely happen. Good for everyone.”

Klopp’s previous remarks quickly re-emerged once the German announced his exit, sparking fresh speculation about his potential replacement. Liverpool ultimately chose Arne Slot in 2024, yet Klopp’s comments underlined the high regard in which Gerrard was viewed at the club during that time.

The chronology of Klopp’s conviction stems from Gerrard’s rise as a manager. Following his retirement in 2016 after a stint with LA Galaxy, Gerrard returned to Liverpool to launch his coaching journey. He assumed control of the club’s Under-18 squad during Klopp’s second complete season – providing him with daily entry to Melwood and Liverpool’s first-team personnel.

By 2018, Gerrard had departed for Rangers and immediately set about revolutionising the Scottish giants. In 2021, he secured Rangers’ maiden Scottish Premiership title in ten years, ending Celtic’s run of nine successive championships.

That success led Aston Villa to appoint him as their boss in November 2021 – with Klopp lauding his development. “Stevie is doing really well, and he’s very young from a manager’s point of view,” Klopp said. “It’s just about when the right moment is for him to take the job.”

Gerrard himself dismissed suggestions that the Aston Villa fixture served as an “audition” and insisted he was completely focused on the Premier League clash.

Klopp also dismissed the idea Gerrard needed trophies to warrant consideration for the future Liverpool role. “People say you have to win things, but I’m not sure about that,” Klopp said. “It’s more important that the club is stable and the manager improves things. Everything Stevie has done looks like it’s heading in the right direction.”

At that stage, Liverpool were locked in an intense title battle, sitting second in the Premier League standings just one point behind Manchester City. Gerrard, on the other hand, admitted he would be “not very popular” at Anfield if Aston Villa managed to beat his former team, although the match ended in a 1-0 defeat for his side.

At present, Gerrard is without a managerial role, having recently joined TNT Sports as a pundit after leaving Al-Ettifaq in January 2025.

Meanwhile, Slot’s first season at Liverpool resulted in the 2024/25 Premier League title, making him the first Dutch manager to achieve this feat.