Jurgen Klopp backs Xabi Alonso to replace him! Liverpool boss endorses coveted Bayer Leverkusen manager for Reds job - as he labels Jose Mourinho & Pep Guardiola 'dinosaurs'

The German announced in a bombshell video that he would be stepping down in the summer after nine trophy-laden years. Alonso, who was managed by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti during his playing career and comes from a family of coaches, is widely considered the favourite to replace Klopp in the Reds dugout. He has taken Bayer Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to five points clear in 16 months, leaving Klopp to describe the Spaniard in glowing terms.

The current Liverpool boss told reporters on Friday: "Xabi is doing an incredible job. If there would not be the rumours around, that’s ­completely independent. If you would have asked me eight weeks ago about Xabi Alonso I would have gone: ‘Oh my God.’ The dinosaurs if you want – Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola, maybe me – we will not do it for the next 20 years. OK, maybe Mourinho will. The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is standout in that department.

“Former world-class player, from a coaching family as well which helps a little, he was like a coach already when he was playing. The football he is playing, the teams he sets up, the transfers he did, it is absolutely exceptional. I played a long time in the Bundesliga and it is super impressive. Not only the points tally but the way they play. He has super signings for this team, exactly what they needed, and that’s really a very special job."

With Klopp confirmed leaving, some have touted fellow club veteran Mohamed Salah to be on his way out too after a glittering Reds career. In the other direction, though, there have been murmurs of Kylian Mbappe signing from Paris Saint-Germain, as he nears the exits at the Parc des Princes. But Klopp played down those rumours, adding: "Obviously I am not involved in that but I can tell you that I would be surprised. It would be tricky for most of the top clubs I know – [because of] wages, signing fee.”

Alongside long-term absentees Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic, Liverpool have recently had to deal with injuries to Domonik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Alisson is also out for Saturday's trip to Brentford after tweaking his hamstring in training.

That clash against the Bees is the first Premier League matchup of the weekend, which means Klopp's side could pull five points clear with a win. Second-placed Manchester City have two games in hand and play Chelsea later the same day.