A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Rafa Benitez reveals a ‘difficult’ warning and a manager shares he is ‘happy’ to be tipped as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp.
Micah Richards sees one ‘question’ about Ruben Amorim taking over Liverpool
Two-time Premier League champion Micah Richards admits he sees one ‘question’ lingering over Ruben Amorim as Liverpool look to appoint the Sporting CP boss as their replacement for Jurgen Klopp. The German will step down after nearly nine years at Anfield this summer.
According to Ben Jacobs, the hierarchy on Merseyside are eager to interview Amorim about their imminent vacancy. Liverpool are still to launch any formal talks with the Sporting coach about replacing Klopp. But the Reds’ plan is to speak to the 39-year-old in mid-to-late April.
Liverpool have a clutch of names on their shortlist to replace Klopp and Richards believes a move for Amorim would ‘definitely’ be wise. But he questions if the Portuguese is ready for his first bit of management outside of his home nation with Casa Pia, SC Braga and Sporting.
Richards said on The Rest is Football: “The way he plays, tactically, he’d be good. In terms of could he be good for Liverpool? Definitely. He’s really intelligent, he plays attacking football [and] has evolved as a manager as well because he was at Braga, as well. He did ok there.”
He added: “The thing is, though, can he do it in the Premier League so soon? That’s the one question mark you would have. I’ve heard Liverpool fans saying they would like him. They like his style of football but you just never know.”
Read more about what Richards has said about Amorim taking over Liverpool, here.
Rafa Benitez fears Liverpool face a ‘difficult’ challenge replacing Jurgen Klopp
Heroic Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez fears his former club face a ‘very difficult’ challenge to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer. The Spaniard is confident that the Anfield outfit will go on to taste success under another manager. But it will not be an easy transition for anyone.
Klopp led Liverpool back to the summit of English and European football after taking charge in October 2015. He won the Reds’ first top-flight title in 30 years and has also secured titles in the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup. So, he has set a boss a tough act to follow.
Benitez thinks following a manager who has won almost everything he can at Liverpool like Klopp will also face foundations that his replacement may struggle or not want to change. So, Liverpool do not have an easy decision ahead as they find the best fit for their hot seat.
“It’s very difficult to replace someone like Klopp,” Benitez has told Sky Sports. “Jurgen has done really well and then everybody’s expecting that the next manager has to win also like him. But you have to compete against top sides all the time, so I think it will be very difficult.
“Someone will do it and do well but it’s not easy. My experience is that when you go after a manager that has been successful, there are too many things that you don’t want to change. But maybe you have to change to adapt to your mentality and style.”
Read more about what Benitez has warned as Liverpool look to replace Klopp, here.
Gian Piero Gasperini is ‘happy’ with links to replace Jurgen Klopp
Atalanta BC boss Gian Piero Gasperini admits he is ‘happy’ about links with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool this summer. But the 66-year-old will not let any tentative speculation of a move away from the Gewiss Stadium derail the end of his eighth season in charge of La Dea.
Gasperini has been in charge in Bergamo since June 2016 and has taken the Lombardy outfit into the Champions League three times. His Atalanta team also host Liverpool this Thursday for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie leading 3-0 having won at Anfield.
Atalanta lost in the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2021/22 and have only reached a European semi-final once before in the 1987/88 Cup Winners’ Cup. So, Gasperini is ignoring any suggestions that he could replace Klopp at Liverpool to focus on Atalanta’s campaign.
“Of course, I am happy with links to [the] Liverpool job to replace Klopp,” Gasperini has said, via quotes by Fabrizio Romano. “But my focus is on the game. We can’t be distracted by this kind of links or stories. We have to focus on the upcoming games.”
Read more about what Gasperini has said about replacing Klopp at Liverpool, here.