Pundit claims Liverpool squad want shock manager to replace Jurgen Klopp instead of Xabi Alonso

The players at Liverpool apparently know who they want to take over as manager after Jurgen Klopp leaves, and it’s not Xabi Alonso.

Conjecture over Klopp’s successor has intensified since he revealed in January that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the current campaign.

Several of the top managers in the league have been connected to the position, which makes sense considering the success the German coach has brought to Anfield over his nine years in the dugout.

Former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso has also been connected, as have Roberto De Zerbi, Ruben Amorim, Julian Nagelsmann, Simone Inzaghi, and others.

The Spanish coach is the front-runner to succeed Klopp, not only because of his ties to Liverpool but also because of his outstanding record at Bayer Leverkusen.

With ten points above Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, the German team appears ready to break Bayern Munich’s stifling grasp on German football.

Alonso had a good chance of leading Leverkusen to a Bundesliga, German Cup, and Europa League treble before the end of the year.

But talkSPORT journalist Alan Brazil claims that Alonso is not Liverpool’s stars’ first choice to succeed Klopp.

Rather, they apparently like Pep Lijnders, Klopp’s assistant, to take over as head coach.

Brazil stated on talkSPORT, “I’ve been told by the players that they wouldn’t mind Pep [Lijnders] taking over as the number two.”

Former Liverpool attacker Dean Saunders replied: “I heard that as well. At least he [Lijnders] knows what’s going on there. It’s difficult, who do you give the job to? That club is that big.”

After serving as Brendan Rodgers’ assistant from 2014 to 2017, Lijnders has become Klopp’s assistant since 2018. This is his second stint at the club.

Prior to Carabao Cup games, Klopp has trusted Lijnders with press conference duties in recent years.

Although he was fired in May 2018 after only four months in command of Dutch second division team NEC, Lijnders does have managerial experience.

Before joining Liverpool, he spent eight years as a coach at Porto after starting his career at PSV Eindhoven.

One of the staff members Liverpool said would leave the team alongside Klopp at the end of the season is the Dutch coach.