LIVERPOOL FANS CHOOSE KLOPP’S SUCCESSOR AND SET EXPECTATIONS FOR REST OF THE SEASON

Xabi Alonso is the overwhelming favourite among Liverpool fans to succeed Jurgen Klopp as manager next season, a survey revealed.

Klopp announced he would be leaving in the summer after nine successful years at Anfield. The German coach admitted that he was feeling exhausted and is looking to take a break from football.

A Sky Bet Fan View survey, conducted by YouGov, has revealed that Alonso, 42, is the coach Liverpool supporters most want to succeed Klopp when he steps down in the summer. Almost two-thirds (62%) said Alonso was their first choice to take over next season.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was second favourite to succeed Klopp with a fifth (18%) of the vote, but this was still some way off his former team-mate Alonso.

Here is supporters’ full vote for Liverpool’s next permanent manager:

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said:

“For me, if we’re talking about who should come in, I think it should be Xabi Alonso. He is very inexperienced in management, having managed just sixty or seventy games, but what you would have straight away is the club on side.

“Not just because he’s an ex-Liverpool player, but because of the respect he had as a player and what he’s done at Bayern Leverkusen within eighteen months is remarkable.”

Jurgen Klopp has won seven trophies during his time on Merseyside and Liverpool fans are expecting him to sign off with at least two more. Liverpool are still involved in four competitions this season, and almost three-quarters (73%) of supporters believe they will win at least two of them. 

An optimistic 6% said they think Liverpool will go on to secure a quadruple of Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League.

Sky Bet Fan View also revealed the pressure the next Liverpool coach might be under next season. When asked where they expect Liverpool to finish in the Premier League in 24/25, 56% of Liverpool supporters said the club should be challenging for the title, with 7% even saying runaway winners.

Whoever takes over from Klopp will have a huge job on their hands, but wider Premier League fans expect Liverpool to remain a top team in Europe even after the German leaves.

73% of supporters believe Liverpool will remain among the elite even without their legendary manager.