Jurgen Klopp has reiterated his belief that Steven Gerrard could replace him as Liverpool manager one day ahead of facing Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
The German signed a new two-year contract extension with the Reds last month, extending his stay at Anfield until at least 2026. Meanwhile, Gerrard is under-contract at Villa Park until 2025 after signing a three-and-a-half year dear when joining the Villans from Rangers last November.
The Liverpool legend has often found himself linked with a return to the Reds as a potential successor to Klopp, with Gerrard making no secret of his desire to manage his boyhood club one day. And the German admitted he sees no reason why the Villa boss couldn't take over from him on Merseyside at some point in the future.
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"My possible successor, yes. Of course it's possible that Stevie will be manager here one day," Klopp told reporters. "It's not my decision to make. It's about other parties and Stevie as well. Yes, I think it's possible."
Klopp and Gerrard will lock horns as managers for the second time on Tuesday as Liverpool travel to Aston Villa, looking to keep their Premier League title hopes alive with three games left to play. The Reds head into the game three points off league-leaders Man City after Saturday's draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
With an FA Cup final clash with Chelsea to follow next weekend, the German is expected to make changes against Aston Villa. And he is hopeful that Roberto Firmino could return against the Villans, having been missing with a foot injury since last month's FA Cup semi-final win over Man City.
"Bobby is in full training. Bobby now trained before the last game," Klopp said. "He trained two days but we don't train a lot so he always has to do more.
"That's what he's still doing so it's a decision for tomorrow. He gets closer and closer. Hopefully he can be involved.
"It's a challenge (picking the team) to be honest but very often the decisions get easier with all the information I get from the medical department because then I don't have to choose between all of them. In these short periods in between the games, I didn't get all the information yet or not the final information.
"When I leave here, I will go to the medical department and collect some more and then we will see. It's challenging."
