Mark Goldbridge admits he can’t understand why Xabi Alonso chose to stay at Bayer Leverkusen over a return to Liverpool.

The Manchester United fan and YouTube host has a theory about why Anfield favourite turned down a possible move to succeed Jurgen Klopp, and offered his verdict on alternative Reds target Ruben Amorim.

“I really expected Alonso to take the Liverpool job, I was really surprised about that,” Goldbridge told talkSPORT.

“Liverpool are a young team and, while Klopp is leaving at the right time for him, he’s probably leaving at the wrong time for the club because it could be a good team for a few years.

“It’s a great opportunity for somebody to take Liverpool on - unlike Man United when Sir Alex Ferguson left, as it was quite an ageing team.

“I thought the Liverpool job was perfect for Alonso, to be honest, but I just think the Real Madrid job has been offered to him - that’s my theory.

Read more on Liverpool

Amorim denies Liverpool talks but remains frontrunner to succeed Klopp at Anfield