Jurgen Klopp fires Steven Gerrard Liverpool warning and makes Frank Lampard comparison

STEVEN GERRARD will make an emotional return to Anfield on Saturday when his Aston Villa side take on Liverpool.

Posted Saturday, December 11, 2021 by Express.co.uk

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Steven Gerrard should not rush into taking the Reds job in the future after using Frank Lampard as an example of how things can go wrong. Gerrard will make an emotional return to Anfield for the first time as a coach on Saturday as his Aston Villa side take on his former club.

The 41-year-old, who has made an impressive start since joining Villa from Rangers last month, has been tipped as Klopp's potential long-term successor, which is unsurprising given his strong emotional ties with Liverpool.

It is a similar situation to that of Gerrard's old England teammate Lampard, who took the hot-seat at his beloved Chelsea in 2019 despite having only one year's managerial experience at Derby County.

The fairytale did not last long, however, as Lampard only survived a year-and-a-half at Stamford Bridge before being sacked, and he now finds himself out of work and struggling to get another job.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's game, Klopp said he was sure that Gerrard would one day take the reigns at Liverpool - but warned that the timing needed to be perfect in order for it to be a success.

Steven Gerrard has long been linked with the Liverpool job

When asked about the possibility of Gerrard as Reds boss, Klopp replied: “Yes, absolutely. The only thing is when is the right moment for that. I think it will definitely happen and that is good for everybody.

“We saw it with Frank at Chelsea. He is doing really well but is very young from a manager's point of view. When is the right moment to take the manager's job? Not because he's not able to do it but how long do you want to do it?

“Is the last job you want to do? The second job? Those are questions I can't answer. But yes, I think it will definitely happen - and good for everybody.”

Some have suggested that Gerrard will have to win silverware first in order to prove he is ready for Liverpool.

But Klopp is not so sure, adding: “I don't know what you have to do before you become Liverpool manager. I know people say you have to win things but I'm not sure about that.

“It is more important you win things when you are here, you don't have to win things in the past with all this 'proven winner' rubbish.”

"There might be some people out there who are just geniuses football wise and immediately know how exactly the rest works as well - maybe they are out there - but it is not likely so it makes sense to do the steps.

“I said it is not easy I didn't say it wasn't possible.”

Klopp's current contract at Liverpool runs until 2024, and it currently does not look likely he will leave before then, meaning Gerrard may have to bide his time and be patient if, indeed, Anfield is in his long-term thinking.

The Reds will look to keep pace with the leaders at the top of the table with three points against Villa, and they currently sit in second place - one point behind Manchester City and one above third-place Chelsea.

With a busy winter schedule ahead, any dropped points could prove terminal in the race for the title, and Klopp will put sentiment aside in the search of a win against Gerrard.