Steve McManaman: New Liverpool boss can build on Jurgen Klopp's success

Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, a friend of former Reds winger McManaman, remains the frontrunner as his team edges closer to a first Bundesliga title in their history, but there are a number of other contenders.

However, with one trophy already secured, the fight for the remaining three looking healthy as they head to the Czech Republic to face Sparta Prague in the Europa League and a squad revamped in the last 18 months, McManaman believes there are positives and negatives for the man who takes over.

"It's going to a really difficult job taking over after Jurgen, with the person he is and the stature he has in the city," the former Real Madrid forward told the PA news agency ahead of Sparta Prague v Liverpool, live exclusively on TNT Sports.

"But on the other hand the club will be financially healthy and in a good position. It's not as if someone is getting sacked and you have to take over a struggling team.

"He will leave this team at the very top, he will give them the best possible opportunity to succeed - but I don't know who it will be.

"I know Xabi well, he's a mate of mine, so I'm slightly biased but I certainly wouldn't want to put pressure on him.

"He's 18 months into an incredible start of his career as, let's be honest, Real Sociedad B doesn't count, this is his proper job.

"Whether it's too soon I don't know. He's got lots of interest. He'll choose whatever role he needs to do, the main thing for him is for him to be successful."

The trip to Prague comes just a few days before title rivals Manchester City arrive at Anfield and it could be timely in order to give valuable match sharpness to players who have been injured.

Mohamed Salah, who has played just 46 minutes since leaving the African Cup of Nations early with a hamstring injury on January 18, is set to return to training this week.

McManaman thinks a run out against the Czech league leaders could be the ideal tune up for him and Dominik Szoboszlai, who came off the bench in Saturday's win over Nottingham Forest for his first appearance in five weeks.

"He (Klopp) brought on Darwin Nunez, Wataru Endo and Szoboszlai for minutes but Mo will be the one who will get minutes (against Sparta) rather than the full game to nurse back into Sunday," he added.

"I think a lot of it will be looking at Sunday to make sure everyone gets through Thursday with the required level of playing time they need because Sunday is a bigger game than Thursday."

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