Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has outlined what Steven Gerrard needs to do to be considered for a managerial return to Anfield in the future.
Gerrard has just steered Rangers to their first Scottish Championship in a decade as they clinched their 55th title – but first since having to reform after their financial meltdown – on Sunday.
The way the 40-year-old has revived the Glasgow giants in his first managerial role after Old Firm rivals Celtic had won nine League Championships in a row has got many speculating as to whether he could succeed Jurgen Klopp at some point.
Both men are tied down to their current deals until 2024 with the German indicating that he wants to see out his contract with Liverpool by which time he would have been in charge for almost nine years.
However, after guiding the Reds to Champions League success in 2019 followed by the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and then a first League Championship for 30 years last season, Klopp’s side have embarked on a dramatic slump since the turn of the calendar year.
After going 68 Premier League games unbeaten at Anfield, they have now lost their last six home games – the worst run in the club’s history – and their hopes to retain the title appear over with the team sitting eighth in the table, some 22 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
Despite this, Lawrenson, has warned over a growing clamour suggesting that Kop Idol Gerrard be next in the Liverpool hot seat.
He told the BBC: “There has always been the issue of whether Steven will manage Liverpool or not. Due to Liverpool's poor season, everyone is saying 'Steven will be next, Steven will be next', so that shout has grown louder.
“What I would say is that, for all the success at Rangers, managing Liverpool is on a different spectrum. It would be a massive step. It would be a big gamble for the club's owners - Fenway Sports Group - to appoint him.
“I think the one-eyed Liverpool fan would be saying 'Get Stevie G in' if Jurgen Klopp were to leave, but I think others would take a step back and go: 'he's done an absolutely fabulous job at Rangers, he was a great player, but maybe he would need to take another job in the Premier League first'.
“I also don't see Klopp going anywhere. He has been as close to Bill Shankly as the club have ever had, he won't be losing his job anytime soon.
“The trouble for Steven then is that other managers who have moved on from their first job as a stepping stone to something bigger end up not having the same success, so he has to be very, very careful.
“He'll already be thinking about winning the Premiership again next season and the chance for a shot in the Champions League with Rangers will be at the forefront of his thinking too.
“But, in the unlikely event that Liverpool come calling this summer, Steven could not say no. Because you won't get asked twice.”
