Jamie Carragher reveals which former Premier League boss would be his choice to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool INSTEAD of Arne Slot as Reds begin talks to hire the Dutchman

Jamie Carragher has suggested Liverpool should look to appoint a former Premier League boss instead of Arne Slot.

Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that the Reds had made Feyenoord boss Slot their No 1 target to replace the outgoing Jurgen Klopp, and they approached the Eredivisie club on Wednesday over a potential deal.

Slot himself seemed to put the wheels further in motion when he revealed on Thursday that he would like to take the job, saying: ‘It is no secret that I would like to go to Liverpool. Now I am waiting for the clubs to reach an agreement. I have every confidence in that.’

It’s now down to the two clubs to do just that, with it looking more likely by the day that the 45-year-old will be the Reds’ next manager and a deal could be done by the weekend.

Writing in The Telegraph, however, Carragher revealed his reservations. Having been a big admirer of Klopp, the former Liverpool defender-turned pundit admitted it will be hard for Slot to fill the German’s shoes – and suggested an ex-Premier League manager to replace him instead.

Carragher (pictured) suggested Liverpool are wrong to Gamble on the Dutchman over a former Premier League boss

The Reds are in need of a new leader following their struggled in the back end of the season

‘The bad news is the man most capable of overseeing the next step for this Liverpool team is leaving,’ Carragher wrote of Klopp. ‘If Klopp was in charge next season, Liverpool would move forward and challenge again at home and in Europe. With Slot, that absolute belief will give way to hope.

‘That’s not intended in any way as a criticism of the incoming Dutchman. Once Klopp announced he was going and Xabi Alonso ruled himself out, Liverpool’s options were limited. No matter how brilliant Slot is – and no-one wins a league title or leads a side to a European final without serious credentials – the next coach was always going to be highly regarded, but not one to necessarily get pulses racing.

‘There is no-one available to replicate Klopp’s aura, authority and natural connection with the supporters – that “X-factor” which is so elusive. Since the Slot news broke, I have heard and read many perspectives suggesting that the choice makes sense tactically and how the data regarding Feynoord’s style makes him a natural fit.

‘I would have given more thorough consideration to a coach like Thomas Tuchel who took on and beat Pep Guardiola in the ultimate test – a Champions League final. Tuchel followed Klopp at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and did well. It has not worked out at Bayern Munich this season, but you only have to look at Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery to recognise how top coaches recover from setbacks. 

‘Slot is an appointment made with the head rather than the heart. Klopp’s appeal was to the head and heart.’

Liverpool’s season had the potential to be a great final farewell tour for Klopp, who has lifted both the Champions League and Premier League during his time at the Anfield club.

There were hopes of winning a Quadruple that were soon dashed following FA Cup and Europa League losses to Manchester United and Atalanta, and the Premier League title now seems out of reach on the back of back-to-back defeats versus Crystal Palace and Everton.

Carragher revealed he would like to see Liverpool turn to a proven coach in Thomas Tuchel

He also suggested that Jurgen Klopp is the best man to take Liverpool into their new era

Carragher was critical of his former side’s run in, suggesting that they never had ‘the quality’ to win the league, which will now likely be won by either Arsenal or defending champions Manchester City.

‘The quality of champions has never been there,’ he wrote. ‘Too many flaws to sustain a challenge which, in truth, has gone on longer than anticipated.

‘Klopp’s successor has plenty to improve after a season which has ultimately promised more than it delivered. No coach arriving at Anfield should consider it an unattainable challenge to make his first year at Liverpool better than Klopp’s last.’