Alonso and Postecoglou the outstanding candidates for Liverpool job says Robbie Savage

Former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage has told Planet Sport Bet that Liverpool should be interviewing Xabi Alonso and Ange Postecoglou to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s next manager.

Speaking exclusively to Planet Sport Bet, Savage said: “With Jurgen Klopp announcing he is stepping down at the end of the season, there are already a host of names being linked with the Liverpool job.

“I’m not sure Pep Lijnders is right. He and all of Klopp’s backroom staff have done an amazing job, but I think they’ll stick together and right now I’m not sure the Liverpool manager’s job is quite what they should be doing. Roberto De Zerbi is doing a great job at Brighton, but you look at what happened to Graham Potter at Chelsea, so I don’t think he’ll be the one Liverpool go for either.

“I would go for Xabi Alonso. What he’s done at Bayer Leverkusen has been fantastic and he knows Liverpool so well. Even though he’s been in the Leverkusen job a relatively short amount of time, the brand of football his side are playing makes him an outstanding candidate for Liverpool.

“Ange Postecoglou is the other one that I think comes into the reckoning. A lot of what he brought in at Spurs mirrors what Liverpool do, in that they have a high line in defence and also play high-energy, ‘heavy-metal’ football. For me, Postecoglou would be a great fit for Liverpool but I’m not sure it’s possible given the short amount of time he’s been at Spurs.
 
“If I was the director of football at Liverpool right now, the two names I’d want to interview would be Xabi Alonso and Ange Postecoglou. Both would suit the dynamic of Liverpool and would be great appointments, although I do think Alonso will more likely than not be the one that gets it.”

 

Announcement won’t change Liverpool’s motivation

Pundits have questioned how Klopp’s departure at the end of the season will affect Liverpool’s motivation this campaign, but Savage doesn’t see there being any issues.
 
“I don’t think Klopp’s announcement will impact on motivation,” Savage said.

“They want to create a legacy for their teammates, the manager, and the fans, and they’d want to do that regardless of whether the manager was staying or leaving. The goal at the start of the season is to win trophies and the fact they could still win four competitions this season just shows they are as keen as ever to do that.
 
“To win a quadruple in your manager’s last season would be the perfect way to send Jurgen Klopp on his way. He’s an icon of the city and of the football club and the players are motivated to do the best for him.”

 

Liverpool must tie down Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah

Savage also commented on a potential exodus at Liverpool on the back of Klopp’s exit, and feels this summer will be huge in shaping the club’s future.
 
“Will there be an exodus of players on the back of Klopp’s departure?” Savage added. “Three of Liverpool’s most influential players – Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah – have their contracts currently ending at the end of next season and it’s going to be a huge summer as they need to tie all three down to new deals.
 
“All three are massive for Liverpool and they are needed to keep the club progressing. If I was in their shoes, I’d want to see who the new manager was before making any decisions, but you’d have to think the Liverpool board will be doing all they can to keep them.”