‘People will think I’m absolutely mad’ – Ex-Liverpool star picks struggling Premier League boss to take over from Klopp

FORMER England defender Glen Johnson admits he might be “absolutely mad” after he tipped Mauricio Pochettino to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Reds boss Klopp shocked the football world in January when he announced plans to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

GettyJurgen Klopp is set to leave Liverpool this summer[/caption]

CarlRecineFormer Reds defender Glen Johnson has named his choice of successor[/caption]

AlamyJohnson believes Mauricio Pochettino would do a good job at Anfield[/caption]

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was the club’s top target following Klopp’s statement.

However, the Spaniard is set to stay with new German champions Bayer Leverkusen for at least one more season.

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim has since been strongly linked with the job.

But, with the club yet to confirm Klopp’s successor, ex-Reds full-back Johnson believes Pochettino could be an option to explore.

He told Betfred: “Even though I’ve said that Jurgen Klopp will be a tough act to follow, any manager that comes in will be inheriting a great squad and it will be an improvement in terms of player quality than any candidate would have had at their disposal previously.

“I know people will think that I’m absolutely mad, but Mauricio Pochettino is a big name that can go into that job and grab everyone’s attention.

“That would excite people despite what’s happened at Chelsea this season because I don’t believe what’s gone on there is Mauricio’s fault.

“You don’t become a bad manager overnight and if he inherited that Liverpool squad, then I believe he could do good things at Anfield.”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

Klopp took over at Anfield in October 2015 and has since won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two League Cups.

When announcing his departure earlier this year, Klopp said: “I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff.

“I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.

“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now.

“I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.

“After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth.”