Jamie Carragher dismisses Xabi Alonso theory in Liverpool next manager prediction

Jamie Carragher has dismissed the idea that Xabi Alonso is too inexperienced to be Liverpool's next manager.

Despite Alonso's short managerial career, Carragher believes he is the 'standout candidate' to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield at the end of the season. Alonso, 42, is currently leading German team Bayer Leverkusen towards a potential Bundesliga title, a first in their history.

This success has led to increased calls for him to replace Klopp at Liverpool, with Carragher being one of his biggest supporters. Carragher said on CBS Sports: "It's still very early in his managerial career. In an ideal world you'd say, 'It's Xabi Alonso but he's had another job, he might have won a Champions League somewhere else, he's won a league here' and all these different things.

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"But, I don't see where he is right now, anyone that would be in front of him in terms of what Liverpool fans want or maybe the Liverpool board want. I don't know what the Liverpool board want but he just feels like he is the standout candidate."

Many fans see Alonso's past as a Liverpool player from 2004 to 2009 as a big plus. But Carragher doesn't think that's so important, predicting the Spaniard to go onto achieve 'great' things. "It's not even just about playing for Liverpool," he said.

"I think if Xabi Alonso hadn't played for Liverpool or there was another manager at Bayer Leverkusen doing the job that he's doing now that has the CV he had as a player and had played for the managers he's played for, he'd be in the running for the Liverpool job anyway.

"The fact that he's a former