Liverpool have been linked with a number of managers over the past few months ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s expected Anfield departure this summer.

The iconic Reds boss announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down from the Merseyside club’s hotseat.

“I will leave the club at the end of the season,” Klopp said in a video shared by the Liverpool media team.



“I understand that it’s a shock.”

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The 56-year-old, whose Reds contract was due to run until the summer of 2026, attributed his decision to “running out of energy”.

Although Xabi Alonso is the name most heavily linked with the Liverpool job, he’s not the only manager said to be on the Reds radar.

Names of other coaches, like Ruben Amorim, Roberto De Zerbi, Gary O’Neil and Eddie Howe have been doing the rounds with regards to the Liverpool hotseat.

Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Now, Reds-leaning journalist Neil Jones has downplayed the prospect of two of those names – Wolves boss O’Neil and Newcastle’s Howe – as Anfield targets this summer.

Jones, writing on CaughtOffside, has claimed that, despite links between both of those coaches and Richard Hughes, it’s unlikely that either are in like to replace Klopp this summer.

“Edwards and Hughes also have strong relationships with both Eddie Howe and Gary O’Neil, but I don’t expect either of those two to come into contention for the role this summer,” wrote Jones.

“If O’Neil were to continue impressing at Wolves, however, then I wouldn’t rule out the idea of him coming onto Liverpool’s radar in the future.”

O’Neil is one of the Premier League’s up-and-coming managers, having impressed at Bournemouth and now doing very well at Wolves.

Just last season, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher backed the 40-year-old to be a contender for manager of the season.

“A lot of the time we talk about Thomas Frank at Brentford and the job he’s done,” he said on Sky Sports.

“But this season it’s the same names – Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Eddie Howe (Newcastle), and obviously Pep Guardiola (Man City) most seasons.

“But you could make an argument for Gary O’Neil.

He’s come in on the back of Bournemouth losing 9-0 at Anfield.

“Every pundit, every journalist, every supporter who was asked their view at the start of the season of who will go down, everyone has Bournemouth going down, no-one has them staying up.

“And to be honest, most people would have had them bottom.

“So to be where they are, and they’re so close to actually giving themselves huge breathing space to stay in this league and I actually think they will right now.

So yes he’s had a huge impact.”

As good as O’Neil has been, perhaps the Liverpool vacancy has come too early for him to be considered a main contender for the role.

However, as Carragher said, if he keeps up the good work, perhaps turning Wolves into a European side, or going to a top-six club and impressing there, then we could start considering him for title-challenging sides.


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