DANNY MURPHY: No fear of a fall like United’s after Fergie… as Jurgen Klopp admits he won’t make an Anfield U-turn with Manchester United battling post-Fergie era

Despite the shock about Jurgen Klopp‘s impending departure, it doesn’t mean Liverpool need to suffer the same trauma Manchester United had in trying to replace Sir Alex Ferguson.

I think the news will galvanise the players for the rest of this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if Xabi Alonso is confirmed before the summer transfer window for an orderly transition.

Players tend to think selfishly. They clearly get on well with Klopp, but will also be aware of having to impress the next manager. 

Whoever that is will study every Liverpool match before making decisions for the following season.

If any player doesn’t apply themselves in the same way they did before hearing about Jurgen, the only person they will end up hurting is themselves.

Along with Pep Guardiola, Klopp has been a hugely transformative figure in English football

If anything, you might see an even higher intensity and performance level, starting against Norwich today in the FA Cup. It could be galvanising. 

There are no guarantees when somebody as successful, charismatic and popular as Klopp goes. But FSG have made three managerial appointments — Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers and Klopp — and all have been successful in their own way in getting the club back from a very low ebb in 2010.

The difference between Liverpool in 2024 and United and Arsenal a decade ago is that Fergie and Arsene Wenger had the final say on everything at their clubs. They had been there for 20 years and were part of an era when managers were all-powerful. But football has changed.

Although other staff are leaving with the manager, the hierarchy have built a structure that is not reliant on any single individual. 

You felt everything at United ran through Fergie, which left an enormous vacuum when he stepped down. Football does not work like that any more.

One of the benefits of Jurgen making his announcement is that the club can be open in going out to recruit his successor.

It’s a dream job for someone because they get to inherit a squad which is young, hungry and talented. 

In fact, the timing might work out perfectly, with Alonso’s emergence as a phenomenal leader at Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. It seems a perfect fit.

His departure will have a similar impact on Reds supporters to that of Bill Shankly’s exit in 1974

The German took hold of Liverpool fans’ hearts and gave the club back their pride and power

Klopp has won pretty much every trophy possible during his historic nine years at Anfield

It’s not a necessity to have a Liverpool connection to take the job — Klopp has proved that — but there isn’t another stand-out candidate who is less of a risk than Alonso anyway. 

The fact he also knows the club and will be warmly accepted by fans gives him a brilliant foundation.

It has been a golden period for Liverpool and does not have to end just because Klopp is leaving.