Jurgen Klopp is irreplaceable, says Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders football news

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders says it is impossible to replace Jurgen Klopp and the club must find someone who can develop their dynasty. Klopp’s shock decision to step down at the end of the season means owners Fenway Sports Group will have to find a successor to a manager who has won every club honor except the Europa League during his time at Anfield. The German has the chance to add to his tally in Sunday’s League Cup final against Chelsea – one of four trophies the club could win this season. But Lijnders, who is also leaving with the rest of Klopp’s backroom staff, said there was no point in trying to find someone who would be a clone of 56-year-old former Liverpool midfielder and current Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso. Leading candidate.

“No one can replace Jurgen Klopp. But I think the past has already shown some difficult changes,” the Dutchman said at the club’s pre-match press conference on Friday.

“What was the hardest change within this club was (Bill) Shankly saying, ‘That’s me.’ (Bob) Paisley stepped up (in 1974) and he was completely different to Shanks.

“It shows, as a club, we have to look for someone who wants to move forward, who has the mentality to develop.”

There were concerns that Klopp’s announcement in January could derail the team which leads the Premier League, faces Southampton in the FA Cup next week and is favorite for the Europa League, having knocked out Sparta Prague in the last 16. Had played a draw against.

However, since then they have managed five wins from six matches and Lijnders said this was down to the mentality in the dressing room.

“A lot of these boys haven’t won anything with Liverpool yet, so despite the manager saying he’s leaving, they definitely give it everything,” he said.

“We are stable enough to deal with it. That’s what I thought at first – but you never know. It’s in your mind but I have so much confidence in us, in the team, that they can deal with it.

“We never make it more complicated than this and I love that. It’s the next game, it’s our final – and it’s the final so let’s put everything we have on this planet to win it and give the fans joy and Give emotions.”

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