Mauricio Pochettino would have been a strong contender to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool had the German announced his departure 12 months ago, according to Mail Sport's Dominic King. The Chelsea head coach will lead his side against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with the Reds seeking their first silverware of the season in Klopp's final campaign.
Speaking on Mail Sport's It's All Kicking Off podcast, King highlighted Pochettino's track record of promoting young players and his style of play as qualities that would have made him an ideal fit for Liverpool. 'If Jurgen Klopp had said 12 months ago that he was leaving, I think Pochettino would have been long, long odds on to be Liverpool's next manager,' King said.
Pochettino, who was out of work last season before being appointed at Chelsea in May, has European experience and knows the Premier League well, King added. However, he stressed that the Argentine needs a trophy to cement his reputation, making Sunday's final a crucial moment for him.
Former Premier League winner and co-host Chris Sutton echoed the importance of the final for Pochettino's future at Chelsea, noting that speculation about his position has emerged due to the club's inconsistent performances this season.
