Steven Gerrard needs to take another Premier League job before stepping into the dugout at Anfield despite his success at Rangers - according to Mark Lawrenson.
The Liverpool legend achieved a managerial milestone in his first senior coaching job after leading the Ibrox side to their first Premiership title in a decade with six games left to play.
Celtic’s draw at Dundee United means the Gers now have an unassailable 20-point lead over their greatest rivals, sparking title celebrations at the club’s Auchenhowie training base.
Gerrard may have been able to break from the party to watch his former club stutter to a sixth straight home defeat at the hands of Fulham on Sunday afternoon, with calls for him to replace Jurgen Klopp in the near future growing louder.
But while Lawrenson believes that is likely inevitable, he questioned whether the 40-year-old was ready for the “step up”.
And he suggested there may need to be another Premier League bridge between Ibrox and Anfield before he can be considered for one of the English game’s biggest jobs.
Former Liverpool defender Lawrenson told BBC Sport: “I 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.
“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'.
“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.
"I can understand why some people in England would look at Steven's time at Rangers and say he only has to beat Celtic, who have been a shadow of their former selves this season.
"But I think with the results in Europe - reaching the last-16 of the Europa League in consecutive seasons - should also make people sit up and take note.
"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.
"But, in the unlikely event that Liverpool come calling this summer, Steven could not say no. Because you won't get asked twice.
