Liverpool’s next manager is going to have an almighty job on his hands next season.
Not only are they taking charge of England’s biggest club, but they also have to follow in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp and try to compete with the might of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Liverpool have won it all under their departing manager, so the next guy through the door, regardless of his status, is going to have very big shoes to fill.
That’s why it will be interesting to see what road the powers that be at Anfield go down as they search for a new coach.
From Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim to Roberto De Zebri’s free-scoring Brighton. They have all been tipped for the job.
Just like Xabi Alonso was, but he will now stay at Bayer Leverkusen after guiding them to the Bundesliga title.
Either way, the talent pool of managers out there, especially any obvious targets, isn’t as clear as everyone thinks.
But Graeme Souness was asked about the possibility of a certain Jose Mourinho, once of Manchester United, becoming Liverpool’s next manager.
The Anfield great admitted that he would take the 2x Champions League winner at Liverpool and how he regards him higher than Klopp, as he told talkSPORT.
An individual who divides opinion, Mourinho is one of the great characters and tactical minds of the game.
Whatever you think of him, one thing is for certain, he delivers trophies and that’s why Souness was keen to praise him.
Jose Mourinho as Liverpool’s next manager
“I don’t think that would be impossible,” said Souness about Mourinho at Liverpool. “They have big shoes to fill whoever follows Jurgen.
“But he would get that relationship with the supporters. He’s an aggressive man and confrontational. The supporters of Liverpool like all of that. You can see how they love Jurgen being like that. It would not be a problem.
On Mourinho dividing people: “Outside his own football club. I think where he has been successful he has taken everyone with him. He’s not interested in neutrals.
On Klopp being regarded higher than Mourinho: “Higher? No. The simplest way to answer is the trophy count at the end of the season. What Klopp has done and what Mourinho has done. I think it boils down to a trophy count at the end of it and then there might be another angle in it. What cups have you won? Let’s take it down to who has won the most Premier League and Champions Leagues. That, for me, would decide things.”
Liverpool in the Premier League title race
What’s also interesting is what frame of mind will Klopp leave this current Liverpool side.
At one point, they were looking to win four trophies, but in next to no time, that has now been whittled down to just two.
The Premier League title is what the fans crave the most and they need to win their remaining games if they are to cross that line.
Even then, the title might still end up in Arsenal’s hands because of their superior goal difference or in Manchester City’s because they need to win their remaining matches to become champions for a fourth time in a row.