Liverpool told there’s a manager they simply have to appoint otherwise fans will be fuming

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As Liverpool begin the search to replace Jurgen Klopp, they’ve been warned against making the wrong decision.

This summer will bring a huge moment for Reds owners FSG. They made an incredibly astute call by bringing Klopp in more than eight years ago. Now they have to make another one to figure out who takes his place.

It won’t be an easy search, there’s no obvious alternative to Klopp. However, for the time being the overwhelming favourite would appear to be former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Certainly, Alonso looks like being the fans choice. A popular player over five years at Anfield, the Spaniard has the makings of a brilliant young manager, too.

So loved is Alonso, that former England goalkeeper Ben Foster has suggested that appointing anyone other than the 42-year-old will upset Reds supporters. Speaking on his Cycling GK podcast, Foster claimed that it should be Alonso or bust for FSG.

“From my perspective, it’s just the most perfect time for Liverpool to give it to somebody like Xabi,” says the pundit. “They’ve not really got a lot to lose. You speak to any Liverpool fan, they’ll all say ‘we want Xabi Alonso as our next manager.’ And if Liverpool go and do anything different than that, they’re almost making a rod for their own back. I think whether they are a success with him or not, they have to do this.”

Alonso or bust for Liverpool

There’s no way that FSG will see things this way. It has already been reported that the Liverpool owners will use a data-led approach when picking Klopp’s successor.

There are certainly plenty of reasons why the timing feels right to bring Alonso back to Anfield. But we’re not sure John Henry and co will consider them all.

If the data points to a better candidate, then you can be certain that they’ll look to them first.

From our point of view though, that candidate would have to be a surprise. Because surveying the current managerial landscape, Alonso looks like the obvious choice.

Roberto De Zerbi’s name has been mentioned, but if you’re going to hire the Italian, then you may as well hire Xabi. De Zerbi has more experience than Alonso, but has never hit the heights that the former Reds player currently is.

The big difference between the two – other than time spent on the touchline – is that Alonso already has the fans on his side.

It might seem unimportant to FSG, but that will make a huge, huge difference. Look at when Rafa Benitez left, for example. Although not quite on the level of Klopp, Rafa was an adored manager at Liverpool who broke a lot of hearts when deciding to leave.

It was big job for whoever took it, but Roy Hodgson never had the support of the fans from day one. It made the position untenable for him.

The circumstances are very different now, but the sentiment remains. Whoever comes in must be afforded time. Being a hero at the club would make that so much easier for Xabi. Get it done.