Michael Owen fears the departure of Jurgen Klopp could see Liverpool fall away in a similar manner to Manchester United following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Liverpool have identified Feyenoord boss Arne Slot as Klopp's replacement having agreed a compensation deal for the Dutchman
Owen, who spent seven years in the Reds first team before leaving in 2004, also had a spell at United before Ferguson left after 27 years
Ferguson's immediate replacement David Moyes struggled to follow in the footsteps of his fellow Scot
Owen said:
“I fear it's a possibility for Liverpool (to have a similar decline as United) but I hope it's not and by the time the season kicks off, everyone will be full of optimism again with a new manager, a new way of playing perhaps and one or two signings, but I don't think there will be wholesale changes.
“I don't think he plays in a vastly different way to how Liverpool do at the moment.
"But of course every Liverpool fan will be nervous looking at what happened to Manchester United and Arsenal, even Chelsea, although they didn't have that consistency for a long time.
“But once it does start slipping it's hard to get it back, we're talking fine margins and you need to be an absolutely brilliant team to be competing now.
"It's the highest standard there has ever been, you literally can't make a mistake these days. They will be nervous.
“Are Liverpool going to remain a powerful force or has their era of greatness slipped and will it take time to build back up again? It remains to be seen.”
Owen, added:
"The problem with Arne Slot is that no matter who was announced, unless it was Pep, it's going to feel like a comedown from one of the greatest.
“Klopp just got the team, got the city, got everything straight away. He was everything a Liverpool fan would want.
“The wounds are open and there is a healing process, no matter who comes in it will be underwhelming.
"But you can bet Liverpool fans will be behind him. He'll be judged after that. It's a really difficult situation no matter who was appointed."
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