Liverpool Next Manager: Dirk Kuyt names preferred successors to Jurgen Klopp

Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt has named the two managers he would like to see succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield this summer.

The Dutchman was a Liverpool stalwart for six years between 2006 and 2012, earning his place as a firm fan favourite on Merseyside.

Kuyt has taken the leap into management himself and is currently in charge of Belgian second division side Beerschot, although he will return to Anfield this weekend in the LFC Legends match against Ajax Legends.

Speaking ahead of his return to the United Kingdom, Kuyt has opened up on who he would like to see succeed Jurgen Klopp - both of whom are his former teammates.

DIRK KUYT ON LIVERPOOL'S NEXT MANAGER

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kuyt has backed two of his former Liverpool teammates in Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard to be perfect replacements for Klopp.

Speaking about Klopp's successor, Kuyt told the Liverpool ECHO: "You could see from a distance [Alonso would be] a manager one day. For me, it would be amazing if one of my former teammates like Xabi or maybe Steven [Gerrard] in the future will become a manager of Liverpool FC.

"That would be amazing and I think both will do well."

On Gerrard, he added: "Obviously you see Stevie is now a little further from the job but he also has experience with Glasgow Rangers and then Aston Villa.

"He is now maybe in a place where people don’t like him to be but he is still doing the job and getting experience and that is how you become a better manager in my opinion."

Alonso remains Liverpool's priority candidate to replace Klopp given the immense job he has done at Bayer Leverkusen - the German side lead the Bundesliga by ten points and are unbeaten in all of their 38 games this season.

Gerrard appears an incredibly unlikely successor to Klopp despite having once been marked for the role, with the former Liverpool skipper currently managing Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.

If Alonso opts to stay at Leverkusen or move elsewhere, Liverpool will likely turn to Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim or Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann.