Steven Gerrard admitted he was "flattered" by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's suggestion he could manage the club once the German moves on from Anfield.
Gerrard, who has been manager of Glasgow Rangers since 2018, is a cult hero with Liverpool fans after making 710 appearances in 17 seasons for his boyhood club.
In an interview with FourFourTwo recently Klopp said: "If Liverpool were to sack me tomorrow, then maybe Kenny (Dalglish) would be the first choice to replace me, but they would probably bring Stevie down from Glasgow.
"If you ask who should follow me, I'd say Stevie. I help him whenever I can."
When asked about the quotes ahead of Rangers' game against Aberdeen on Saturday, Gerrard admitted he was pleased with Klopp's words, but insisted he hopes the ex-Dortmund manager stays at Liverpool for many more years.
"I was surprised and flattered at the same time," Gerrard said.
"But when you read the quote really carefully, like I have, it said 'if I get sacked tomorrow' he thinks Steven Gerrard should be the next Liverpool manager.
"Jurgen Klopp's not getting sacked tomorrow. I don't want him to get sacked tomorrow. He's doing a fantastic job."
The prospect of Gerrard returning to Liverpool is a tantalising one, and would be another instance of a former hero going back to an ex-club to become manager, with the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United and Frank Lampard at Chelsea recent examples.
But Gerrard reiterated his desire to see Klopp continue to win trophies at Anfield.
He added: "I'm a Liverpool fan, and I'm sure every Liverpool fan on the planet endorses what I'm saying here, we want him to stay for many, many years and bring as much success to our club as possible, but it [the comment] was very flattering at the same time."
