Liverpool considering appointing 'genius' Italian to replace Klopp if he steps down as Reds boss

Liverpool are considering appointing Luciano Spalletti should Jurgen Klopp step down as Reds manager, according to a fresh report.

Klopp has endured his most difficult season at Liverpool to date, having taken over as manager of the Merseyside club in October 2015.

The Reds are currently languishing in 10th in the Premier League, some 12 points adrift of the Champions League places and 22 points behind table toppers Arsenal.

Furthermore, the club are yet to have won in the Premier League this calendar year and have claimed a solitary point from their last four games.

Should Liverpool suffer a defeat at the hands of Sean Dyche’s rejuvenated Everton side this evening, Klopp’s position as Liverpool boss could be more precarious.

While the prospect of Liverpool sacking Klopp seems unlikely despite the club’s wretched form, a replacement is reportedly already being lined up should the German walk away from the job.

Liverpool interested in Spalletti

According to the Italian publication CMW, Napoli manager Spalletti is being considered by Liverpool if Klopp leaves Anfield in the coming weeks and months.

Spalletti’s Napoli side are currently taking Serie A by storm. After an impressive third-place finish last term, Gli Azzurri are at the league summit, a whopping 16 points clear of nearest challengers Inter Milan.

Napoli have won an incredible 19 of their 22 league games while they have qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League, where they have favourably been drawn against German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Spalletti, who was once labelled a “genius” by former Italy striker Antonio Cassano, has also got the better of Klopp this season, having taken on the Merseyside giants twice in the Champions League group stages.

Napoli dismantled Liverpool 4-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, before losing 2-0 in the reverse fixture at Anfield.

Across his career, Spalletti has notched up over 1000 games, winning two Russian Premier League's in that time, while he has also been named Serie A manager of the year twice.

Having never won the Scudetto however, it is unlikely he will leave Napoli until the end of the season.

Topics: Football, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, Premier League, Napoli, Serie A

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.