Liverpool No2 Pep Lijnders can see the board going in a new direction to replace Jurgen Klopp.

Both Klopp and Lijnders will leave Anfield at the end of the season.

The Dutchman said: "No-one can replace Jurgen Klopp but the past showed already a few difficult transitions. What was the most difficult transition inside this club? Bill Shankly saying 'That's me [done]'. Who stepped up? Bob Paisley. He was different from Shanks.

"It showed that we as a club we have to search for someone who wants to grow who, has the mindset to develop but it is not for us but the owners, they can make the decision. We made the right decision to announce this early, to give the club time to get this transition smooth.

"The past has shown it is possible. Barcelona...Pep Guardiola announced he was done and then Tito Vilanova took over and got them the most points ratio over. That was probably the hardest transition in the past 15 years. I was at Porto when Andre Villas-Boas won so much at Porto, then Vítor Pereira took over and was completely different to Andre and was champion the year off. They don't have to replace Jurgen, but find a new manager."