Gary McAllister Heading for Anfield Reunion as First Team Coach

Liverpool’s shake-up of boss Brendan Rodgers coaching staff looked to be more or less complete with the additions of former England u-19 man Sean O’Driscoll and the promotion of Reds academy coach Pep Ljinders to the senior set-up announced earlier in the week, but it looks like there’s room for one more with various media reports linking Anfield great Gary McAllister with a return to Merseyside.

Following a disappointing season in which Liverpool missed out on securing Champions League football, both Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh were dismissed from their roles in Rodgers back-room staff as the club looks for solutions to their faltering form. A number of popular ex-players have been linked with various coaching roles at the club with the likes of Sami Hyypia and Boudewijn Zenden, but it looks like McAllister will be the one to make the move after he reportedly held talks with Rodgers at Melwood yesterday.

The Scottish midfielder, who played a massive role as Liverpool won the League Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup to complete a historic treble back in 2001, remains a revered figure on Merseyside and would be an extremely popular appointment with the clubs loyal fan base.

With experience coaching at various levels with Coventry, Leeds United, Middlesbrough and a stint playing second fiddle to ex-Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa during the 2010/2011 season, McAllister, if appointed, would replace Marsh as first team coach with the Reds opting not to renew his contract at the end of the year. An announcement is expected before the club’s pre-season tour begins this weekend.