Liverpool's hierarchy have reportedly held discussions over the future of manager Jurgen Klopp following a poor run of form.
The 55-year-old has enjoyed a hugely-successful seven-and-a-half-year reign with the Reds since replacing Brendan Rodgers back in 2015, cementing his legacy as one of the club's greatest managers.
After finishing as runners-up in the 2015-16 Europa League and 2017-18 Champions League, Klopp got his hands on silverware with Liverpool for the first time when he lifted the Champions League trophy in the 2018-19 campaign as the Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final.
Liverpool then ended their 30-year wait for a top-flight title by winning the Premier League the following season, accumulating a club-record 99 points in the process, shortly before lifting the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Klopp and Liverpool came close to an unprecedented quadruple last season, but they ultimately fell short in the Premier League title race and Champions League final, and had to settle for success in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
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Klopp's philosophy and shrewd recruitment has been a major factor behind Liverpool's success over the years, but neither have helped the club to evade a difficult 2022-23 campaign in which they have fallen some distance behind their rivals across all competitions.
Liverpool have already crashed out of both domestic cup competitions and they currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, 19 points behind leaders Arsenal and seven points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, albeit with two games in hand.
Meanwhile, hopes of success in the Champions League were dealt a major blow on Tuesday night when they suffered a humbling 5-2 defeat at home against current holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Liverpool have only won three of their last 10 matches across all tournaments, and such a decline in form has resulted in speculation over Klopp's long-term future as manager.
Despite previous reports claiming that Klopp retains the full backing of Liverpool's owners, CaughtOffside reports that the Reds' hierarchy held conversations regarding the German's future prior to Tuesday's defeat against Real Madrid.
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The report also refers to a source which describes Klopp as 'samesy' and adds that 'a lot of players look like they have lost their appetite' under the German's tutelage.
It is understood that a final decision on Klopp's future is yet to be made, but should Liverpool chiefs decide to part ways with the former Borussia Dortmund boss, the club will provide him with the opportunity to resign out of respect for what he has achieved at Anfield.
Furthermore, Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann has been identified as a potential successor to Klopp, and the 35-year-old would allegedly 'jump at the chance' to take the reins on Merseyside.
Nagelsmann has spent the last 19 months in charge of the Bavarian giants and won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double last season, although their 10-year dominance at the summit of German football has come under threat this season, as they currently sit level on points with Dortmund and Union Berlin at the top of the table.
Klopp and Liverpool will look to return to winning ways and boost their top-four hopes in the Premier League when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Saturday night.
Oliver Thomas
