Gerrard named former teammate who could succeed Klopp as Liverpool manager 'drops retirement hint'

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard once named one of his former team-mates as a future candidate to be involved with the Reds in a managerial capacity.

Jurgen Klopp became Reds boss in 2015, replacing Brendan Rodgers. Since his appointment, Liverpool have won six major trophies, including one Premier League and one Champions League title.

The Reds won both of England's domestic cups last season, and were close to winning the quadruple. They lost out by two points in the league to Manchester City, and were defeated by Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

This season has been much more of a struggle, with Liverpool out of contention for the league title. They are in ninth place on 29 points - 21 behind leaders Arsenal.

But they are still in the Champions League, and face an upcoming rematch against Real in the last 16.

Speaking on Michael Calvin's Football People podcast, in connection with BT Sport, Klopp was open about his potential retirement from football management: "The job is incredibly demanding, but it's great as well.

"So that's why I say when Roy Hodgson came back again, when he came in, I saw him and asked him, 'Do you have a wet flat? You go again?' And he says, 'No, I love it'.

"So I cannot see myself beyond 70 and still standing in the dugout each week, and especially each weather for training, one and a half, two hours, standing there in the wind."

Klopp is currently 55, and there is no indication he plans to retire any time soon. However, Reds legend Gerrard did name a possible candidate that Liverpool could turn to when Klopp does eventually decide to leave Anfield.

Gerrard on future Liverpool manager

Gerrard was previously tipped as a future Liverpool boss himself, although his lack of success during his recent spell at Aston Villa has cooled talk for now.

Writing in his autobiography in 2015 (quotes via Liverpool Echo), the one-time Champions League winner named the two former team-mates he would want as his assistant if he was ever to take the top job at Anfield - and one name in particular could certainly build up the credentials to take over himself.

"It's still quite fun to fantasise a little," he said. "If, totally hypothetically, I was going to become Liverpool manager one day, I know who I'd love to have as my assistant: Xabi Alonso or Jamie Carragher.

"They are very intelligent, have a deep knowledge of football and are special men. The players would respect them, the fans would like them and I think we would work really well together.

"I've never mentioned it to either Xabi or Jamie, so I think they'll be surprised if they read about it. Xabi might go on to be a great manager himself - and so I feel a bit embarrassed admitting that a managerial fantasy would be him working alongside me."

Alonso is currently in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, having previously managed the B team at Real Sociedad.

He deploys a fluid 3-4-3 formation at the German side, and after a shaky start, has guided them to victory in each of their last five Bundesliga matches.

Carragher, meanwhile, has carved out a successful career as a pundit in his post-playing career. However, fellow Reds legend Phil Thompson had two separate spells as both a Liverpool coach and a football pundit, including when he was enticed back to the club by Gerard Houllier in 1998. You never know whether Carragher might go down a similar path at some point in the future.