Jurgen Klopp has insisted the "moment" has to be right before the Liverpool hierarchy can consider Steven Gerrard as a legitimate candidate for the Anfield hot-seat.
Saturday afternoon will mark the first time Gerrard has returned to the club as a member of an opposition side since he called time on his Reds career back in 2015.
The 41-year-old will guide his Aston Villa side out with the hopes of making the trip back to the Midlands from Merseyside with all three points, denting his former side's title prospects in the process.
However, the two managers have been nothing but complimentary towards each other, bounded by their shared love of Liverpool and their respective status as club legends in their own right.
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Many have tipped Gerrard to one day succeed Klopp in the Anfield dug-out, with the German in full agreement as he admitted he thinks the former Liverpool midfielder will one day take charge of the club.
Pressed on his views on whether Gerrard will one day get the job, Klopp explained: "Yes I think absolutely. But the question is when the moment is right.
"People say you have to win things [to be considered for the Liverpool job], but you can win things in the past and then never win again."
Turning his attention the game at hand, Klopp conceded that there is of course some sentiment towards Gerrard, such is the high regard in which everyone associated with Liverpool holds him in.
But with Liverpool tirelessly trying to secure their second Premier League title in three seasons, Klopp knows all too well that when the whistle blows any affection for the man in the adjacent technical area must be put to one side.
"There is sentiment, we love Steven, but we will go with all we have.
"Sing songs, give him the best reception ever before and after, but during the 95 minutes we need everyone behind us."
Given Gerrard has only just returned to the Premier League as recently as last month, he is yet to face his former side in any capacity - let alone on their own patch, one he knows so well.
Klopp has experienced something similar while in charge of previous clubs and has shed light on how Gerrard may view the situation.
"Wonderful story. Stevie will probably have no idea how it will feel when he steps into the stadium.
"I had it in a similar way first time back at Mainz and back at [Borussia] Dortmund with Liverpool. I've never heard a negative word about Steven Gerrard."
Gerrard has fielded plenty of questions over his return himself, but has played down the spotlight surrounding him and tried to divert attention to on-pitch matters.
The Villa boss told reporters: "It's a big game of football and it's 90 minutes we need to focus on.
"We're a good team, we've got top players, we're a threat and we want to make it as difficult as we can for Liverpool.
"If I'm on the bus heading back down the M6 towards Birmingham and I'm not the most popular at Anfield, so be it."
