Liverpool's biggest post-Klopp questions: Replacements, Salah, more - ESPN

It's the news that Liverpool and their supporters never wanted to hear, but Jurgen Klopp is stepping down as manager at the end of this season after 8½ years in charge at Anfield.

The 56-year-old, who succeeded Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, has restored Liverpool to greatness during his time at the club by winning the Premier League and the Champions League. His departure will leave a huge void, no matter who lands the job as his successor. But while Klopp's exit is the biggest issue that Liverpool's American owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have faced since buying the club in October 2010, it is not the only problem that they will have to deal with in the months ahead.

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The ripple effect of Klopp's decision to step down will be felt on and off the pitch at Anfield and there are no easy solutions for FSG. So while replacing the club's most successful manager of the modern era is a major challenge in itself, the reality is that Klopp's departure will create a long list of questions that must be answered if the new coach is to have a chance of being successful.

This is the key decision, and Liverpool's ability to bounce back from Klopp's departure rests on picking the right candidate to replace a man who has become synonymous with the club's style of play and their success in recent years.

Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso has already emerged as the favourite with the bookmakers, and it's easy to see why. The 42-year-old is a Liverpool great, having played in the team that won the Champions League in 2005, and he has repeatedly spoken of his bond with the club and its supporters. However, the same applies to Steven Gerrard, though nobody is tipping him for the job right