Liverpool have received a recommendation to consider Roberto De Zerbi for the managerial role at the end of the season.
Garth Crooks, a former striker, believes that the Italian tactician’s remarkable achievements at Brighton make him a natural successor to Jurgen Klopp, who will step down at the end of the campaign, marking Liverpool’s search for a new manager since October 2015.
While Xabi Alonso, a former Reds midfielder and a previously strong contender, withdrew himself from contention last week, De Zerbi has emerged as a potential candidate alongside Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim and Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Crooks advocates for De Zerbi’s appointment based on his outstanding work at Brighton, where he guided the team to the Europa League knockouts.
In his BBC column, the 66-year-old stated: “Much has been made about the decision of Xabi Alonso to remain at Bayer Leverkusen, but Liverpool could do much worse than offer Roberto De Zerbi the post. What he has done at Brighton is nothing short of miraculous.”
Liverpool secured a 2-1 comeback victory against De Zerbi’s Brighton on Sunday, with Danny Welbeck opening the scoring within 90 seconds. However, goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah ensured Liverpool’s retention of the top spot in the Premier League.
Klopp, a keen admirer of De Zerbi, waited for his counterpart inside the tunnel after the game. The German praised De Zerbi’s work and encouraged him to “keep turning the football world upside down,” expressing his respect for De Zerbi’s achievements. Klopp lauded De Zerbi’s remarkable feat in assembling a competitive team at Brighton despite challenges such as injuries and player departures.
Before the match at Anfield, Klopp likened playing against Brighton to facing Manchester City, emphasizing their possession-based style of play. He commended Brighton’s approach and acknowledged the difficulty of defending against them, highlighting their calmness on the ball.
De Zerbi hinted at uncertainty regarding his future at Brighton, indicating his intention to hold discussions with the club’s hierarchy about their vision before making a decision.
