Chelsea's gruelling transition must serve as a warning to Liverpool as the Reds prepare for the post-Jurgen Klopp era

It goes without saying, but Liverpool's decision-makers must find the right replacement for Klopp at the first time of asking to avoid this transition becoming messy.

Just days after Tuchel's sacking in September 2021, Chelsea had zoned in on then-Brighton boss Graham Potter, and there is the impression that - regardless of the ensuing underwhelming results - not enough consideration was given to whether he was the best fit culturally to thrive at Stamford Bridge, with the Englishman never truly endearing himself to the fanbase in the way that Tuchel, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte had been able to before him.

Klopp, of course, has been the perfect fit at Anfield, with his former club Borussia Dortmund closely aligned with the culture and values of their English counterparts, even sharing a club anthem in 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. That makes the task of replacing him all the more difficult.

Time, at least, is on the board's side. Speaking on Klopp's exit, Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon said: "It is testament to Jurgen’s unstinting professionalism and ongoing commitment to the best interests of Liverpool that his decision was arrived at in a way which allows for business as usual to be maintained for the remainder of his tenure while simultaneously creating an opportunity for us to prepare for the future.

"Our priority now is to continue the due diligence behind the scenes which will allow our football operations department to adapt to a future without Jurgen. As ever, these ambitions will be pursued in the best interests of the club and its supporters."

But which candidate will smoothen the transition the most? Inevitably, Xabi Alonso has emerged as the supporters' choice given his legendary status at Anfield and unprecedented exploits with Bayer Leverkusen, with the Werkself incredibly still unbeaten this season as February rolls around.

But is he actually the in-vogue, Potter-esque option? While the chiselled Spaniard might represent the ideal replacement on paper, his patient, possession-based tactical approach would necessitate a significant shift from the famous energy and intensity of Klopp's 'gegenpressing'. Culturally, though, his fit is undeniable.

Meanwhile, his former team-mate Steven Gerrard has seen his candidacy for the role fall by the wayside following his struggles at Aston Villa, and subsequently in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq.

Then there are more left-field options, such as Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Julian Nagelsmann, who is expected to leave his role as Germany manager in the summer. It is perhaps here that Liverpool need to look most closely; young, passionate and dynamic coaches who are tactically aligned with Klopp and could pick up the mantle seamlessly.

Klopp's announcement has prompted fears that his exit will be the catalyst for a number of his most trusted lieutenants to call time on their Liverpool careers, and club captain Virgil van Dijk has done little to allay concerns that he will be chief among them.

Speaking in a press conference, the towering Dutch centre-back said: “Will I be part of the new era? That's a big question. I don't know. Eighteen months left? That's correct. Good maths. I don't know. The club will have a big job on their hands, that is well known. To replace not only the manager but the whole staff and there are so many things that will change. I'm very curious which direction that will go in, but when that will be announced we will see our situation.

"I can't say much about it. It will be the end of Jurgen Klopp's era and I am still part of it - that's why I don't like to talk about it. That is my main focus. We will see at the end of the season, hopefully we will have the success we all dream of and by then probably there will be more clarification about what the club wants for the future and then we will see."

Talismanic attacker Mohamed Salah, who is believed to have been unsettled for some time, is another who may see this as the ideal moment to part ways, while the likes of Andy Robertson and Joel Matip might have the same train of thought - stripping the squad of goals, quality and experience, and resulting in a lack of continuity for whoever takes the reins.

Of course, Chelsea have very recent experience of a mass exodus as their co-sporting directors Lawrence Stewart and Paul Winstanley executed a clear-out of the squad following the harrowing 2022-23 campaign, with Pochettino inheriting the squad they eventually cobbled together.

Some 26 players departed either permanently, on loan or at the end of their own temporary spells at Stamford Bridge. That mass departure was countered by the big-money captures of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer, among others, pushing the club's spending under the Boehly-Clearlake ownership beyond £1 billion ($1.3bn). That upheaval has predictably left Chelsea in a state of flux, and Pochettino has been left to pick up the pieces, with many key areas of the squad somehow overlooked.

Should Liverpool find themselves in a situation where multiple players are either pushing for a transfer or unsettled in the aftermath of Klopp's seismic exit, they will need to be resolute if there are still years to run on their contract, and shrewd if they have to find replacements.

One of the biggest failures of Chelsea's new regime to date has been neglecting weak points in the squad - many of which have been longstanding.

While Enzo Fernandez was a necessary addition to the midfield in January 2023, it is the worst-kept secret in football that the Blues need a new, prolific No.9, and the goalkeeper position has never been properly addressed since Thibaut Courtois' departure to Real Madrid almost six years ago.

As far as Liverpool are concerned, their upcoming transition will be infinitely smoother if their flaws are addressed in a timely manner; Salah's goals will somehow need to be accounted for, as will the gaping hole that Van Dijk would leave behind. Meanwhile, Darwin Nunez has been unconvincing as an out-and-out striker, and there have been long-term concerns over Robertson's decline. Those must be the short-team priorities for the Reds' hierarchy before mapping out out the future of their squad.

One of Chelsea's fatal flaws over the past 18 months has been simply having too many players. As a result of their mind-bending January spending 12 months ago, the squad was 31-strong before the summer clear-out, with Potter and Frank Lampard both failing to juggle the oversized group - to the extent that the club was reportedly forced to provide overflow changing rooms and it was almost impossible to hold training sessions that involved everyone sufficiently. Consequently, morale plummeted.

Although they have their injury problems at present, Liverpool have 28 in their number not including those out on loan, and they could be sleepwalking into similar issues if they don't take action soon, with Klopp's exit guaranteed to affect the mood around the club.

Central midfield should be a particular area of concern, with Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch and Stefan Bajcetic all vying for a limited number of roles.

Throughout Chelsea's turbulent past year-and-a-half it felt as though the happiness of the players and the supporters became an afterthought amid the off-field drama, upheaval and a lack of leadership, and performances suffered dearly as the malaise around the club deepened.

Pochettino has recognised that, as he tries to become the figure who - like Klopp - fans and players alike can rally around. "We are paying now for the effect of 18 months," he said recently. "We have been here for six months and sometimes for us it is difficult to appreciate or to compare. It is true that we are getting better results now, but of course, the disappointment for the fans is coming from behind and last season."

Simultaneously, the most difficult and important job facing Liverpool now is maintaining the positivity and togetherness that Klopp has fostered so adeptly in his near-decade at the helm, as everyone pulled in the same direction. It is impossible to overstate the impact the German has had at Anfield, and equally it is impossible to overstate just how seismic the impact of his departure will be as the lynchpin is pulled away.

Now, Liverpool's top brass have the unenviable task of trying to keep chins up and morale as high as possible on the pitch and in the stands. Their chances of continued success in the post-Klopp era may well depend on it.