Klopp opens door for Gerrard return

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said former club skipper Steven Gerrard is always welcome back at the club, after the ex-LA Galaxy man announced his retirement from the game on Thursday.

The 36-year-old enjoyed an illustrious 17-year career at Liverpool and admitted he has thought about stepping into a management role in the future, one that could see him stand behind Klopp at the Anfield touchline.

But Klopp says nothing concrete has developed yet.

"The door is always open for him," Klopp told assembled reporters on Thursday, as quoted by Sky Sports. "From our side, if he wants to make whichever career change from his former career, then we want to help him.

"There's nothing else to say."

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Klopp was quick to quash talk of details regarding a possible return, warning reporters to give Gerrard breathing room and offering that "in life, you need space to jump into the next thing that is new."

"Steven Gerrard, 186 goals, the first thing what you should all learn is if somebody wants to help Steven Gerrard then stop being so excited about the next step," Klopp said.

"He was a young player and now he will be a young whatever. I'm the wrong person to talk about it."