Anfield great Phil Thompson believes Steven Gerrard would be a 'natural fit' to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager - but would not discount Pep Lijnders from the running.
Aston Villa boss Gerrard, who returned to Anfield at the weekend for the latest Liverpool Legends match against Barcelona, has been linked with taking over from Klopp in the past.
While the Kop icon has publicly admitted he'd like to be Reds boss one day, he has repeatedly sidestepped the possibility of replacing the German, whose current deal expires in the summer of 2024.
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Gerrard took up his first senior managerial role when he moved to Scotland in 2018 to take charge of Rangers after spending time working at Liverpool’s academy. His Rangers side ended a prolonged period of dominance for Glasgow rivals Celtic who, at the start of last season, were aiming to win their 10th successive league title.
However, in November, Gerrard returned to England to take over at Villa following Dean Smith’s sacking, and he has so far won eight, drawn two and lost nine of his 19 games in charge.
Gerrard represented Liverpool on 710 occasions across 17 seasons, scoring 186 goals and registering 145 assists. But when asked about the prospect of one day becoming Reds manager last summer, he was quick to play down the links.
"I can't control any media speculation about my position. I don't welcome it, I don't add to it," Gerrard told ESPN.
But Thompson, who was assistant manager of Liverpool when Gerrard first broke into the first team, could see the 41-year-old returning to Anfield one day. And the former Sky Sports pundit believes his recent transfer activity at Villa could be a big draw for the Reds.
“I think he would be and you can see him as a natural fit. Obviously you have got to earn the right,” Thompson exclusively told the ECHO.
“Obviously Jurgen was at Mainz, was at Dortmund, and then came through. Steven has gone in at Rangers, which is a massive club. Then he has gone to Villa, and you can see the changes that he has done, bringing in the players that he has done.
“[The signing of] Philippe Coutinho is because it is Steven Gerrard. Players will always want to come and play for him, which will be a big draw at Liverpool.”
But Thompson also believes that Lijnders should be considered as a possible Klopp replacement. The Dutchman initially left the Reds to take up his first managerial position with NEC Nijmegen in January 2018.
However, Lijnders returned to Merseyside the following June, being appointed as Klopp's new assistant manager. And speaking back in December, the 39-year-old revealed he wants to return to management when his Liverpool contract expires, but avoided suggestions he could replace Klopp.
“But I would also like to put Pep Lijnders' name in there as well. He shouldn’t be discounted when it happens,” Thompson added.
“Yes, if Steven comes I would be delighted, but if Pep Lijnders was to take it then he would get Jurgen’s blessing. I would do that because you see he has got that fiery character the way Jurgen can be. He is also a very good coach.
“So there is good possibilities there. But Steven has done himself no harm, he’s moved from Rangers to Villa to test himself. I think he is doing that because listen, not everything is ever going to run smoothly no matter what football club you are at.”
Gerrard was recently involved in an awkward interview with Des Kelly of BT Sport, after his side’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal. During the interview, it was put to Gerrard by Kelly that Villa didn’t get a shot on target until the end of the game, and following the question, things got tense between the two.
“That’s exactly how I’ve just described the game to you though, is it not?” Gerrard said in response to Kelly. “Not good enough first half and then improved second half. We pushed at the end, got some good crosses in, created more interesting moments and I thought the performance was a lot more positive in the second half… but well done for spotting that.”
But Thompson has defended Gerrard’s actions and believes there is nothing wrong with the way he acted.
Thompson said: “You see the defeat against Arsenal and how Stevie got with Des Kelly. There is nothing wrong with that. He fights the fight and he protects his football club and that’s the way he always will be.”
Phil Thompson was speaking to the ECHO as part of a promotion for The Boot Room Boys documentary, the latest showing from the award-winning BT Sport Films series, which will premiere on BT Sport 3 at 10.30pm on 5 April and will be available via the BT Sport App any time thereafter. For more info, visit btsport.com.
