JAMIE CARRAGHER believes Steven Gerrard could go straight from the Ibrox dugout to the Anfield hotseat. But the Reds legend insists his former team-mate won’t be focussing on an emotional return to Liverpool anytime soon.

The prospect of Gerrard becoming Kop boss in the future has never diminished during his Rangers reign and current incumbent Jurgen Klopp talked up that very possibility last month.

Gerrard admitted the chance to manage his former club would be a dream come true but he played down the move and reaffirmed his commitment to the Light Blues cause at present. The 39-year-old saw his side take pole position in the title race before the international break and Carragher knows he will only have silverware in his sights.

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Carragher said: “I think with managers it is all about timing, really. Who knows when Jurgen Klopp is going to go? Steven could be having a difficult time here. He could be somewhere else.

“Or he could be absolutely flying at Rangers, having won the league, and people are thinking he is made for the Liverpool job. It can be unfair on managers because you might still be the same manager but it is about the timing and whether you are flavour of the month.

“Stevie will be in the reckoning because he is Steven Gerrard. But more importantly, because he is doing really well as a manager.

“There is no doubt that the more experiences he has of different places or clubs will enhance him in his managerial career. But there is nothing to say he couldn’t go straight from Rangers to Liverpool. I can assure you now, however, that Steven Gerrard’s focus is on trying to stop Celtic winning nine in a row and on being successful at Ibrox.

“He knows himself that football is about being in the right place at the right time. That was the case when he came to Rangers because you felt they probably couldn’t get any lower. I remember them losing 5-0 at Celtic not long before he took over.

“People in England looked at that and thought Rangers were miles and miles behind, but Steven has come in and given them the opportunity they have today.”