Forget Klopp, says Ian Wright, Liverpool need 'classy bloke' Ancelotti

Klopp's almost-unparalleled success in taking Borussia Dortmund from sleepy underachievers to German champions and Champions League finalists has made him red-hot favourite to succeed Brendan Rodgers, who was fired on Sunday.

But while Klopp has been widely hailed as the perfect choice from Anfield, Wright has a very different view on the matter.

"When I think of Klopp, I think of that bad season that Dortmund had after the Champions League final, I thought the motivation wasn’t there," Wright told the Daily Star.

Wright conceded that Klopp's name would be widely mentioned, and speculated - as many have - that Liverpool owners FSG already have a man in place to take over.

"A manager like that out of work is maybe why they pressed the button," he said.

"I feel Liverpool have already been in contact someone. Their statement said they were going to act decisively and timely, which says to me they have been in touch with someone who has said yes they will come but it has to be now."

But with Carlo Ancelotti also out of work having left Real Madrid in the summer, Wright suggests that Liverpool would be far better off hiring the Italian, a former double-winner with Chelsea.

"I would worry with Jurgen Klopp, he brings exciting football, passion and respect from the players," he said. "That is fine if he can come in and Liverpool stop conceding goals and he can see green shoots but I think Liverpool should go with someone with real experience, European experience, like Carlo Ancelotti.

"If Liverpool can get Ancelotti they should take him with open arms, he has the experience, he has never done badly wherever he has gone, he is a classy bloke."

Wright makes a fair point, in that Borussia Dortmund seemed to run out of steam in Klopp's final year or so at the helm. And Ancelotti would be a fine choice: ultimately, what Liverpool need now (and have needed for many years) is a manager who'll make them feel like they're a big club once again. Because right now their 'big club' status is hanging by a thread, even in the minds of their own supporters - United fans, of course, demoted them years ago.

We saw the difference at United when Van Gaal came in for Moyes, how the club were taken seriously again despite results not really being much different, at least for the first few months. Klopp or Ancelotti both absolutely fit that bill.

But Klopp is perfect: as well as being a great coach, he's also very personable and funny/cheeky, which Liverpool fans will particularly appreciate, and above all he'll make Liverpool a club where top players will happily go. That's not been the case for a long, long time.