Pundit claims Liverpool squad want shock manager to replace Jurgen Klopp instead of Xabi Alonso

Liverpool players reportedly know who they want to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager, but it isn't Xabi Alonso.

Since Klopp announced in January that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the current season, speculation about who will replace him has ramped up.

Given the success the German coach has brought to Anfield during his nine years in the dugout, it makes sense that some of the best managers in the game have been linked with the vacancy.

The likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Roberto De Zerbi, Ruben Amorim, Julian Nagelsmann and Simone Inzaghi have all been linked, as has former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso.

The Spaniard is the favourite to replace Klopp, not just because of his Liverpool connection but also thanks to the superb work he has done at Bayer Leverkusen.

The German side are currently ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and look set to end Bayern Munich's stranglehold on German football.

By the end of the season Alonso could well have guided Leverkusen to a Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League treble.

However, according to talkSPORT pundit Alan Brazil, Liverpool's stars preferred Klopp replacement is not Alonso.

Instead, they reportedly want Klopp's assistant Pep Lijnders to step up into the top job.

"I am told the players wouldn’t mind the number two, Pep [Lijnders] taking over," Brazil said on talkSPORT.

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Former Liverpool attacker Dean Saunders replied: "I heard that as well. At least he [Lijnders] knows what’s going on there. It’s difficult, who do you give the job to? That club is that big."

Lijnders has been Klopp's assistant since 2018, his second spell at the club after he worked with Brendan Rodgers between 2014 and 2017.

In recent years, Klopp has entrusted Lijnders with press conference duties ahead of Carabao Cup matches.

Lijnders does have experience as a manager, although he lasted just four months in charge of Dutch second division side NEC before he was sacked in May 2018.

He began his coaching career at PSV Eindhoven and spent eight years at Porto before joining Liverpool.

The Dutch coach is among the staff members Liverpool announced would leave the club with Klopp at the end of the season.