Steve McManaman has warned Liverpool that the biggest challenge their new manager will face will be emulating Jurgen Klopp's larger-than-life character.

Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim has emerged as a standout candidate to succeed Klopp in recent weeks and is now believed to be the Reds' No.1 target.

Amorim, 39 has worked wonders in Lisbon and is on course to win a second Portuguese title with Sporting.

"We all know it's going to be a difficult job for whoever comes in but the number-crunchers, the data specialists, they'll be doing their homework behind the scenes."

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He added: "Liverpool are in a really great place.

It's everything else: [replacing] the charisma of Jurgen, his sense of humour, how he got the people of Liverpool, that's going to be the hard job."

"I know Ruben speaks very good English, which is a great help straight away!

Liverpool have already started preparing for life after Klopp by bringing Michael Edwards back to the club.

The former sporting director played an influential in the success that the club enjoyed during Klopp's tenure and he has now been given a wider remit in his new role as Fenway Sport Group's chief executive of football.

McManaman feels that the appointment of Edwards and FSG's vision, which includes aspirations to build a multi-club ownership model, will allow them to sustain the success Klopp has brought.

Speaking about FSG's vision, he added: "That's important because as we all know, it's all about how the club move forward.

These clubs will know it way in advance and then it's all about the process of bringing that new manager in.

"I think the fact that Liverpool have brought Michael [Edwards] back is great.