Gerrard still in the running to succeed Klopp, says Redknapp

JAMIE REDKNAPP believes Steven Gerrard remains on course to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. A former team-mate of Gerrard’s at Anfield, Redknapp feels the 39-year-old’s work in Glasgow has created a positive impression, despite two seasons without silverware. And the ex-England midfielder expects Gerrard to become a natural fit for a return to Anfield if he avoids too many errors in the coming campaigns at Ibrox. Klopp and the Rangers manager currently both have contracts that run until 2024. ‘I wasn’t sure if Stevie would go into management,’ said Redknapp on The Lockdown Tactics. ‘It’s a bit like Frank Lampard. ‘They’ve both had great careers, won everything, and I could see them just doing punditry, take the easy option. But they haven’t — they’ve gone in at the sharp end. ‘Stevie is in Scotland and doing well. Yet, it’s not easy because Celtic are so strong. But Stevie has got it, you can see that. I think a few years at Rangers, and as long as he doesn’t make too many mistakes, it’s only a question of time before he manages Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp decides to go.’ Redknapp also reflected on the first time Gerrard (pictured) joined training with the senior players at Anfield. ‘Gerard Houllier brought over two players — one was Stephen Wright, who went on to have a good career, and the other was Stevie, who’d have been 16 or 17 at that time,’ he said. ‘Both of them joined in. Stevie played in the same midfield as me and I think we were up against Paul Ince and Patrik Berger. ‘I’ve got the ball, passed to Stevie, hoping he would give me it back and I could ping it out to the left winger, or something. ‘But he took the ball in and on the half-turn he just hit this pass, straight through the air and into someone’s feet. And I thought: “Wow, this kid can play”. ‘Two minutes later, he’s smashed into Paul Ince, and then he is driving past people. ‘Houllier came up to me at the end and asked what I thought of the right-back. ‘I said: “Right-back? What about the kid in midfield? He’s unbelievable. He’s different class, the best I’ve seen in years. He is a winner”. I said: “If you can’t see that, then you don’t know football”.’ l

The Lockdown Tactics is a brand new podcast, hosted by former Scotland stars Robert Snodgrass and Kris Boyd. Every week, TLT will talk to big names with its core focus being on Mental Health and Wellbeing. Its chosen charity partner is The Kris Boyd Charity. To watch the full interview with Jamie Redknapp, go to YouTube and the various Lockdown Tactics social media platforms. Available from noon today.