Robbie Fowler has claimed that Steven Gerrard is ’embarrassed’ by premature talk of replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Gerrard quit Rangers to return to the Premier League in a managerial capacity last year by replacing Dean Smith at Aston Villa.
This will be the 42-year-old’s first full season in charge of an English top-flight outfit but despite his lack of experience, speculation about replacing Klopp at Liverpool has always come up.
Given his connection to Anfield, then succeeding at Aston Villa would certainly make him a logical choice to one day succeed the German manager on Merseyside.
However, that’s a long way away whatever happens and yet there continues to be tenuous links with the Liverpool role nevertheless.
And Fowler believes that his former teammate is humiliated by the premature talk of it, saying he only just wants to focus on being the best manager he can be – for Villa, that is.
He told The Mirror: “Steven Gerrard knows that every time he loses a game, some Aston Villa fans will maintain he isn’t fully focused and has the Liverpool job on his mind.
“It’s an easy stick to beat him over the head with – but I can tell you straight that’s a load of nonsense. His priority is Aston Villa. He’s there to do that job and that’s the only thing on his mind.
“It’s other people who mention Liverpool. Gerrard is embarrassed by it because, for him, it’s Aston Villa every hour of the day. The only progression he is interested in is being the best manager he can possibly be.”
Klopp isn’t going anywhere at the moment.
Back in April, the Liverpool boss extended his contract until the year 2026, which is another four years away.
He clearly has a long-term vision that he wants to work on and irrespective of what Gerrard does or doesn’t do at Villa, he won’t be getting a call from his old club anytime soon.
Then again, as Fowler mentioned, that’s the furthest thing from his own mind.
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