Jurgen Klopp faces a much tougher challenge at Anfield than any of the club’s other Premier League managers, according to former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher.
The club legend, who played more than 700 times for the Reds, believes the lack of players of the “highest calibre” means the German is up against it more than Brendan Rodgers, Rafa Benitez and others.
‘[Klopp] has not inherited a world-class player,’ Carragher writes in his latest Daily Mail column, adding that the availability of the likes of Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez made things easier for previous bosses.
‘Yes, there are some very good players — Daniel Sturridge, when he is fit, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson are excellent — but you need much more than that to get to the top,’ he adds.
Klopp’s Liverpool go into their meeting with Manchester United in 9th place in the Premier League, three points behind their opponents, and Carragher believes defeat will make Champions League qualification all but impossible.
Carragher has already played down the Reds’ hopes of finishing in the top four, and notes that ‘A loss to United could potentially mean they come out of the weekend eight points behind fourth place with five or six clubs ahead of them.’
‘They would virtually have no chance of qualifying from that position.’
