5 possible replacements for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool

It’s been over two years since Liverpool appointed Jurgen Klopp to take the reins of the club from Brendan Rodgers, but while the Reds have enjoyed an upturn in popularity as a consequence, they appear as far away as ever from winning a first Premier League title.

Only a Steven Gerrard slip prevented Rodgers’ Reds from claiming the crown back in 2013-14, yet since that near miss, Klopp has never steered them close. Indeed, only in one of his three campaigns in charge has he even finished in the top four, doing so last term as they edged Arsenal out by only a single point.

While they currently occupy the fourth spot again, the prospect of a title challenge has already disappeared by Christmas, with Manchester City 14 points distant from the Anfield side.

They have fared better in Europe, booking their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, but a 3-3 draw against Sevilla underlined the defensive deficiencies that Klopp has utterly failed to address over his tenure in charge.

After overcoming their recent slump with a spectacular flurry of goals, Klopp’s job may not be under immediate threat, but there can be no doubt that the Anfield board will be casting their eyes around looking for potential replacements should the team suffer a relapse.

Here are five men they may well have their eyes upon:

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# Leonardo Jardim

The Monaco boss would have to be a leading contender to take over at Anfield after the thrilling manner he set his side out last season, which upset the odds to win Ligue 1 against a Paris Saint-Germain outfit who boasted far more financial muscle.

The style is just as important as substance at Liverpool, and the fearless nature of the way his side fired their way into the semi-finals of the Champions League will have left an impression on the Reds board, too.

Among Monaco’s victims in that run were fellow Premier League clubs Tottenham and Manchester City, while Arsenal were ousted in a previous campaign, suggesting that Jardim knows how to set up his side to defeat England’s best.

Since then, he has seen his side dismantled, with several big-money sales, including the loss of Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva to Manchester City, plus wonderkid Kylian Mbappe’s bumper switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

It would be little surprise if Jardim feels he has taken Monaco as far as he possibly can, particularly with PSG’s incredible investment over the summer making it near impossible for anyone to challenge them domestically.

This transitional year is not going as well as hoped, either, with the Stade Louis II side struggling to even finish in a Champions League spot. It could, therefore, be time for a new project and Liverpool would appear perfect.

# Carlo Ancelotti

Ancelotti won a league and cup double with the Stamford Bridge side in 2009-10.

One of only two managers to have won the Champions League or European Cup on three occasions -twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid – Ancelotti is the most experienced option out there, not to mention one of the most prolifically successful.

Moreover, the Italian could be relatively straightforward to entice. Having been sacked at Bayern Munich earlier this season, he is not under contract with any club, so negotiations could be relatively straightforward, while his knowledge of the English game is strong after a previous spell with Chelsea.

He won a league and cup double with the Stamford Bridge side in 2009-10 and has offered success in every country he has coached.

At only 58, he has plenty left in the tank and would see any potential move to Anfield as a fast track back to the top of the game.

What may count against Ancelotti is the conservative style that he has typically employed during his coaching career. Liverpool fans expect a cavalier brand of football to be played by their team and there would be concerns that the former Real Madrid boss would simply be too conservative for their tastes.

However, if it was to bring success, and dissent would surely die down rapidly.

# Thomas Tuchel

Tuchel suffered the same fate as Klopp at BVB.

When Jurgen Klopp was fired as Borussia Dortmund head coach, it was Thomas Tuchel who stepped into his boots. So if the German was to suffer a similar fate an Anfield, could the former BVB boss once again be the man to fill the void?

Tuchel suffered the same fate as Klopp at BVB, jettisoned after just a couple of seasons in charge. His crime was finishing third in the Bundesliga. Not only did Dortmund fail to maintain a challenge on Bayern Munich, finishing 18 points behind the eventual champions, they also failed to beat RB Leipzig into second. Even winning the DFB Pokal was not enough to save the 44-year-old, who has been out of work since.

Indeed, Tuchel’s career path has been extremely similar to Klopp, as they have both overseen Mainz and Dortmund on their way to the top.

He employs the kind of buccaneering football that Liverpool fans love to watch, with a fast, offensive style and plenty of goals.

Unlike Klopp, however, who arrived at Anfield with a Bundesliga title and a Champions League final appearance under his belt, Tuchel has little title-winning success. Indeed, that DFB Pokal win last season represents the only trophy he has ever won.

He may be out of contract, but he may be seen as too easy an option for Liverpool fans, who would prefer someone with a track record of winning.

# Luis Enrique

Capped 62 times by Spain, Enrique offers vast experience as a player

After three years in charge at Barcelona, Luis Enrique stepped down as head coach of the Camp Nou giants in the summer and has not been in employment since.

Over the coming months, there threatens to be something of a scramble for his services. Bayern Munich are believed to be ready to open talks with the Spaniard, while there is also the prospect of Manchester United entering the fray should Jose Mourinho leave his place at the helm of the Old Trafford outfit.

Liverpool should also be monitoring the 47-year-old’s movements as he offers the profile that they would expect from any incoming boss.

Capped 62 times by Spain, he offers vast experience as a player, but he also has a good deal of success in the dugout after graduating from Barcelona’s B side to coaching Roma. It was back at Camp Nou that his career really took light, however.

Having replaced the late Tito Vilanova at Barca, he led his side to a famous treble in the 2014-15 season, while he would win the Spanish title the following year, too. His last season was not as successful as Real Madrid came close to sweeping the board, yet Barca’s success in the Copa del Rey prevented them winning the treble.

But he offers an attacking an exciting brand of football and is the type of big name who would be welcomed with open arms on Merseyside.

# Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe is the sixth longest-serving boss in the English League.

Aged just 40, Eddie Howe is regarded as one of the brightest English managers in the game today, and this homegrown appeal would doubtless appeal to Liverpool fans, who have not seen a local manager take the hot seat at Anfield since Roy Hodgson departed in 2011.

Such is the extent of Howe’s success with Bournemouth, who he led to the Premier League for the first time in their history during the 2014-15 season, he was named Football League Manager of the Decade, while he is also the sixth longest-serving boss in the English League and second in the top flight to only Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

His success has been no flash in the pan, either. Not only did he lead the Cherries, on a relatively modest budget, to the top flight, he has set about keeping them there. Indeed, last term they finished in the top half of the table – an almost unthinkable achievement.

Although things are not going so smoothly this time around – Bournemouth find themselves 14th in the standings – his side are still well positioned to avoid the drop and further establish themselves among the country’s elite.

Howe, therefore, has a good deal going for him, yet the big clubs are typically reticent to take any risks with regards their managerial appointments and his lack of top-level experience could count against him.