We don't know the ins and outs of why Xabi Alonso chose to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. Ultimately, we can probably take him at face value when he discusses how comfortable he is there, and how he would like to stay with the excellent group he has assembled and take them into the Champions League.

But at the back of his mind, perhaps there was a nagging voice telling him that taking over from Jürgen Klopp might be a poisoned chalice. No doubt he would be confident in his own abilities to manage a club like Liverpool, but taking over from such a great, it's almost the case that the only way is down.

Of course, the much-discussed quadruple is now long since gone, with a 'single' looking the likeliest outcome. But even if Klopp is unable to bow out with a second Premier League title to his name, his heir will still be taking over from someone who has taken a place in the pantheon of all-time Liverpool greats.

That he has achieved this status in an era so dominated by Manchester City is even more impressive. He cemented Liverpool as the challenger to Pep Guardiola's juggernaut, and even came out on top a few times — it was far from a given that the Reds would be the one to take up this mantle, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea spending far more lavishly in the transfer market.

But one alumnus of those two clubs believes Liverpool has nothing to worry about if it replaces Klopp with Rúben Amorim. Nemanja Matić played with the current Sporting manager at Benfica, and has sung his praises.

“Rúben Amorim is an excellent person, he was one of those who helped me the most when I arrived at Benfica because he speaks English very well," he told Portuguese outlet O Jogo. "I hope he hasn’t forgotten how to speak it now!" he laughed, referencing the possibility of a summer move to Liverpool.

“I see Rúben Amorim at a big club, I don't know if it will be Liverpool, but if it happens I'm sure he'll be a great replacement for Klopp because Rúben understands football and has the personality and character to be a great coach, he already it currently is. I would like to see him in the Premier League, let's see what happens from now on.”

It doesn't look like being a great season for many of Matic's former clubs. Manchester United and Chelsea's struggles are well-documented, while Amorim is on the verge of beating Benfica to the Portuguese title.

Liverpool.com says: It's certainly a vote of confidence in Amorim from the former Manchester United and Chelsea man. He might have been joking, but speaking English does always help, while the glowing reference for his man-management skills is also encouraging when it comes to taking over from Klopp.

Ultimately, Liverpool needs to give the new manager space to do their own thing. Trying to be the new Klopp won't work for anybody, and it will take a skilled hand to negotiate this changing of the guard successfully.