Former England international Darren Bent feels Jurgen Klopp would jump before he is pushed at Liverpool while mentioning Thomas Tuchel as a potential replacement at the Premier League giants, speaking to talkSPORT (31 January, 5pm).
It’s hard to believe that, this time last year, the quadruple looked like a very real possibility for Klopp’s ‘Mentality Monsters’.
Flash forward to January 2022, and Liverpool are out of the title race, EFL Cup and, thanks to Kaoru Mitoma’s moment of Le Tissier-esque magic on the South Coast, the FA Cup too. With Real Madrid just weeks away, their Champions League ambitions could be extinguished sooner rather than later too.
Suddenly, questions are starting to be asked about a legendary coach; Klopp struggling to disprove notions of a so-called ‘seventh season syndrome’.
One-time Tottenham striker Bent cannot see Liverpool going as far as to fire the most successful and popular coach in the club’s modern history. But he does believe Klopp might have a difficult decision to make regarding his Anfield future if things carry on like this.
Will Liverpool turn to former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel if Jurgen Klopp leaves
“I don’t think they are going to sack him,” Bent begins. “But he might walk. I can’t see them sacking him.”
When quizzed about who could take on the unenviable task of succeeding the man who ended Liverpool’s 30-year wait for a top-flight title, Bent believes that one former Chelsea coach is far more likely than another to step into Klopp’s shoes.
“I don’t think (the Liverpool owners) are turning to Jose (Mourinho),” Bent adds. “Thomas Tuchel? Maybe. But not Jose.”
Mourinho’s declining reputation, and his less-than amicable relationship with the Liverpool fans, makes the one-time Man United boss a no-go as far as the Merseyside giants are concerned. But Tuchel – who replaced Klopp at both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund – may feel he has unfinished business in England; sacked by Chelsea so soon after winning the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
“(Liverpool’s) battle is to try and make top four,” Bent concludes. “Am I completely writing them off? Absolutely not. Because, once they get their players back, they’ve got an opportunity still.”
Liverpool are currently ninth; ten points adrift of bitter rivals United in the Champions League spots.
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