Liverpool likely to opt for Klopp

LONDON — Liverpool will open discussions with former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp after ending Brendan Rodgers’ three‑year reign at Anfield.

Having made it clear how eager he is to move to Merseyside, Klopp is expected to hold talks in the coming days and is seen as a more likely fit for the club than Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian will still be sounded out, but Liverpool plan to name Rodgers’ replacement before the club’s next League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Oct 17.

The club’s American owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) informed the outgoing manager of their decision to make a change shortly after the 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby on Sunday, Rodgers paying the price for a prolonged run of poor form going back to last season.

A decision on the next manager will be based on which of the candidates is most willing to work within Liverpool’s existing structure — a six-strong transfer committee that identifies targets, considers their merits and value, and decides which players to pursue and carry out negotiations — and believes they can get the most out of the squad.

Klopp’s familiarity with Liverpool’s club model — and comfort working at a club where others have more control over recruitment — is attractive to the Anfield owners. He has not disguised how keen he is to end his sabbatical and move to English football, and a partnership between the charismatic German and the Kop has caught the imagination of the red half of the city.

There is no possibility of Liverpool’s transfer committee being disbanded, although the recently-appointed backroom team, which includes first-team coach and Liverpool favourite Gary McAllister, must await their fate depending on the wishes of the new boss.

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre and FSG president Mike Gordon spoke to Rodgers, who can expect a pay-off in the region of £7 million (S$15 million), within an hour of the draw at Goodison Park to inform him of the board’s decision.

Rodgers will be devastated his tenure has ended so soon into a season, as he hoped to be given more time to oversee what he felt was another period of transition. He had given a robust defence of his coaching credentials in recent weeks, not least in the aftermath of what turned out to be his final game in charge. FSG obviously saw things differently.

There will also be a clamour for Liverpool to rectify previous mistakes and ensure either Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher or both are offered positions at Anfield. There has been an obvious lack of local wisdom at the club since Gerrard’s summer exit to Los Angeles.

Liverpool have spent more than £200 million during Rodgers’ reign and he went close to winning the title last year. He was rewarded with a new contract, but never recovered from the sale of Luis Suarez 12 months ago. Despite what he called a “change in technical direction” over the summer, results and performances did not improve from the end of last season and there was unrest at Anfield as boos rang out following sub-standard displays.

Although Rodgers’ popularity with the fans subsided, there is no doubt many in his dressing room will be disappointed. Players such as captain Jordan Henderson felt they owed much to the manager, while Danny Ings and James Milner chose to move to Liverpool to work with him. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

About Juergen Klopp:

A hugely popular choice, Klopp enjoyed vast success over a seven-year period at Borussia Dortmund, twice winning the Bundesliga and finishing Champions League runners up in 2013.