Speaking on The Athletic Football Podcast, James Pearce has talked up Pep Lijnders’ chances of becoming Liverpool’s manager after Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
There has been plenty of talk around Klopp’s replacement at Anfield this week after Steven Gerrard took his first managerial job in the Premier League.
Gerrard is widely understood to be the front-runner for the job, but Pearce says that people shouldn’t underestimate Lijnders’ chances.
What’s been said?
Pearce was speaking about who could replace Klopp at Liverpool.
“I don’t think people should underestimate the respect the owners have for Pep Lijnders who is Klopp’s assistant right now,” Pearce said.
“He may not have much experience of being a number one anywhere, but in terms of knowledge and expertise, Klopp basically gives him 100 per cent responsibility for the coaching programme, designing it and implementing it. The owners are massive fans of his.”
Is he up to it?
Lijnders is a brilliant assistant and as Pearce says, he already has a lot of responsibility at Liverpool, but is he up to this job?
He’s not got lots of experience as a manager. He once took charge of NEC in the Netherlands, but that’s about it.
His CV as an assistant is brilliant, having worked at Porto and Liverpool, but perhaps that’s where he’s best utilised.
It remains to be seen who replaces Klopp, but this would be a real step-up for Lijnders if the former Porto man is to take the reins once the German bows out.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
