Man City poach former Liverpool figure who Klopp hailed as "incredibly important" for the Reds

Manchester City have reportedly appointed a former trusted staff member under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Mark Leyland is currently working with Newcastle as a first team coaching analyst, combining analysis with a role as part of Eddie Howe's coaching staff.

He moved to Tyneside in December 2021, making him one of the first appointments made by Howe after his confirmation as the new Newcastle manager.

Leyland was signed from Liverpool, where he was a performance analyst, and he was described as 'incredibly important' by Klopp upon his departure from Anfield.

The German said (quotes via Liverpool Echo): "Mark was here longer than I was here and was an incredibly important member of our staff with his post-match analysis and the individual work he did with the players.

"He was a top guy on top of that."

Now, after just over a year at St James' Park, Leyland has again moved to pastures new.

Man City 'poach' former Liverpool staff member

The Daily Mail have reported that Leyland will start at City in an 'international position' at the end of the season, with the former Liverpool staff member remaining in his current role at Newcastle until then.

It is also reported that he will work across all clubs as part of the City Football Group network - a holding group that owns full or majority stakes in clubs such as New York City, Girona and Palermo.

Leyland's success at Newcastle and Liverpool is said to have attracted interest from City chiefs, and they have acted to poach an influential member of Howe's support staff.

He has helped guide Newcastle to contending for the Champions League places this season, with the Magpies currently in fifth place in the Premier League. They are one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham, with a game in hand.

Howe's side have drawn three and lost one of their last four games, but have only suffered defeat twice this season.

They also hold the division's best defensive record, having conceded just 15 goals in 23 matches.