Former Liverpool star Dean Saunders believes that Pep Lijnders, the current assistant manager at Liverpool, could be the ideal candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp as the club’s manager.

He has been assistant boss since 2014, apart from five months managing in Holland

Saunders suggests that Lijnders has already gained the support of the dressing room as the search for Klopp’s successor intensifies.

While Xabi Alonso is considered the frontrunner for the position due to his success with Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool is also reportedly interested in Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbon and Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton.

Dean Saunders reckons Lijnders already has the backing of Liverpool’s dressing room

However, Saunders believes that Liverpool owner John Henry and FSG may opt for a less conventional choice and consider promoting Lijnders, despite his limited experience as a head coach. Lijnders briefly managed NEC in the Eredivisie but was sacked after failing to secure promotion. He later returned to Liverpool and played a significant role in the club’s triumphs in the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup.

He has been assistant boss since 2014, apart from five months managing in Holland

While Lijnders’ departure as assistant manager has been confirmed alongside Klopp’s exit, Saunders suggests that there could be a twist in which Lijnders remаins at the club as the main man, supported by the players. Lijnders himself has spoken about his future, emphasizing his loyalty to Klopp and his commitment to finishing the current project at Liverpool. He acknowledges that Liverpool will eventually find a new coach with fresh ideas while expressing excitement about his own prospects of managing a different club in the future. Nevertheless, he remаins focused on Liverpool until the end of the season.