Jermaine Pennant believes that Xabi Alonso should be Liverpool’s first choice to replace Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp announced on Friday that he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season and there is no suggestion that the club have decided on his replacement.
However, Pennant thinks that Alonso, currently impressing at Bayer Leverkusen and a former Liverpool midfielder, would be the natural choice for the club.
He told Lord Ping: “My first choice for Liverpool has to be Xabi Alonso. He’s ripping the league apart in Germany. Is it risky because he’s so new to management? Yes, but Klopp was new to the Premier League after doing well in Germany. But the way he has Bayer Leverkusen playing makes him Liverpool’s favourite.
“It’s so hard to replace Klopp. It doesn’t matter who gets nominated, there will be murmurs about them. To fill Klopp’s boots is near enough impossible unless you get a Pep Guardiola. He was a legend at Liverpool so to come to Anfield, he’d be automatically loved straight away. It would be the equivalent of [Steven] Gerrard coming home but I think Alonso is the best selection.”
Recalling their time at Liverpool together, Pennant said: “Alonso was so cool and calm, it didn’t matter where he was he could handle it. He’s such a cool guy! Leverkusen are no small club, to be topping Bayern is already a lot of pressure and he’s handling that well.
“At the moment he is my number one choice.”
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