Graeme Souness thinks there’s a real chance 44-year-old becomes Liverpool’s next manager

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Liverpool’s restructuring following the upcoming exit of Jurgen Klopp took a positive step forward today.

As per an official statement from Reds owners FSG relayed by journalist David Lynch on X today, Michael Edwards is the new CEO of Football. Edwards will oversee the search for a new manager while also assuming a ‘broad range of responsibilities’ within the ownership.

With Richard Hughes reportedly set to come in below Edwards as Liverpool’s new sporting director, things are starting to fall into place.

The one thing that remains still to be tied up is indeed sorting out just who will succeed Klopp in the Anfield dugout. Xabi Alonso remains the favourite, but according to TalkSPORT pundit and former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi should still be ‘in the frame.’

“You look at Liverpool at the end of the season and you get that job, what a dream job that is,” Souness begins.

“Will he [De Zerbi] be in the frame? Yeah, because of the brand of football he plays, that will be attractive to people. Is [Xabi] Alonso the favourite? I believe he’s talking to Bayern Munich.”

Souness gives De Zerbi backing

Back when Klopp announced his intention to leave at the end of the season, De Zerbi certainly seemed to be in the running.

That was January 26th, though. In the six-and-a-bit weeks since then. the Brighton manager’s stock has fallen considerably.

The Seagulls have played 10 games in the intervening period. Of those ten, they have lost five, drawn one and won four. Not too bad, you might think.

Well, perhaps for Brighton, but certainly not for Liverpool. And of those five losses, they were beaten 4-0 on two occasions – one being away at Luton Town – and 3-0 on another.

That simply is not good enough for a coach looking to take over from the greatest Liverpool manager of the modern era. Not nearly.

De Zerbi will soon have a chance to leave a better impression, when his team head to Anfield on March 31st. Klopp has never beaten the Italian in four tries so far, losing twice.

Nevertheless, with Alonso leading the way and Ruben Amorim also looking like a decent option, De Zerbi should not be considered a true contender here.

Souness may be behind him, but if Liverpool end up appointing the 44-year-old, it will surely only be because they were thwarted with other targets.