‘You might not like his style’… ESPN pundit says Liverpool could be looking at 53-year-old manager

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Liverpool’s approach to hiring a new manager could yet take them in a surprising direction.

As the Reds prepare to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer, it’s been heavily reported that owners FSG will bring a ‘data led’ approach to their decision.

Whatever that boils down to exactly, former midfielder Xabi Alonso has been installed as the early favourite. Another reportedly ‘standing out’ to Liverpool is Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.

But according to ESPN pundit and commentator Ian Darke, this process might well throw up one Diego Simeone as the right man for the job.

“I wasn’t suggesting for a minute that Diego Simeone should be the next manager of Liverpool, not at all,” Darke begins. “But they keep telling us it’s a data driven process measured against resources. They worked out when they hired Klopp, I think it was 12 or 14 of his 16 seasons he’s overachieved as a manager.

“If you look at Simeone, Atletico Madrid with Real Madrid and Barcelona to play, he’s got them to two Champions League finals, he’s won the title a couple of times, he’s won the Europa League, he’s operated at the top level for a decade. So, though you might not like his style and the perception is of an ugly dark arts team, he is a manager who’s achieved a lot.”

Simeone tipped for Liverpool

This is actually a really interesting suggestion from Darke. Given what he’s achieved at Atletico, Simeone should always be in the conversation when top jobs come about.

Nevertheless, his style of play does not feel like a natural fit for Liverpool. In fact, it feels just about as polar an opposite as you’re likely to find.

Where Klopp likes his football to be attractive and free-flowing, Simeone prefers a cagey, defensively astute game.

Combative as a player, ‘Cholo’s’ teams are also renowned for excelling the dark arts of the game. They’re not a great watch.

Pretty or not though, Simeone’s tactics have been incredibly successful. Liverpool have been on the receiving end of it before, and when they’re good, Atletico feel almost impossible to get the better of.

As Darke points out, the Argentine coach is also well used to going up against sides with better resources and coming out on top. It’s easy to see why that would appeal to Liverpool.

And it should also be said that spiky though he is, Simeone is an incredibly charismatic manager. If he could get the fans on side at Liverpool, they’d go to the ends of the earth for him.

Still, we just don’t see this one ever happening. Simeone is seemingly happy in Madrid and although it has felt like a fresh challenge has been on the horizon for him for years, it never quite happens.

If Alonso can’t be prised from Leverkusen though, the Reds could do a lot worse…