Michael Edwards tipped to make 'surprise' managerial appointment

To most, it would seem a foregone conclusion that Liverpool will appoint Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso as the Reds' new manager when Jurgen Klopp leaves his post at the end of the season. However, there could be a surprise still yet to come.

That's the view of journalist Mark Ogden, who told ESPN that he expects Michael Edwards, who has returned to the fold as FSG's CEO of football, to "pull a rabbit out of the hat" when it comes to the next Liverpool manager.

“I’ve been told that he’s one of the most connected people in the game," said Ogden. "He knows the players that are coming through, the coaches that are coming through. He can pick up a call to this guy, to that guy.”

Despite Alonso's strong credentials and undeniable connection to the club, Edwards's return to the forefront of decision-making could mean someone completely off the radar is appointed as the next coach.

“He knows six months before everybody else who the players are and who the coaches are. Which is why I think [...] it will be a surprise, it won’t be Xabi Alonso," he added.

Faith from supporters

While Alonso certainly appears to be the fans' favourite, Ogden believes that if Michael Edwards opts to appoint someone a little left-field, the fans would still back the decision.

The return of Edwards, widely revered for his astute transfer dealings and analytics acumen, means the Reds now have a high-calibre operator to oversee the club's transition in the post-Klopp era.

This view is shared by Ogden, who said: "Now Edwards is back at the helm, there may well be a lot more faith from the supporters."

Other candidates

After Xabi Alonso, the next favourites to take the Liverpool job are Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim, Germany's Julian Nagelsmann, and Brighton and Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi.

There have also been tentative links to Hansi Flick, currently unemployed, Bayern Munich's Thomas Tuchel and Brentford's Thomas Frank.

While Klopp's departure will undoubtedly leave a void that will be challenging to fill, the Liverpool faithful's trust in Edwards' abilities to identify the right candidate offers reassurance.