Givemefootball.com: Guardiola No.1 choice for Liverpool

Liverpool have reportedly outlined Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola as the ideal man to succeed Kenny Dalglish, who had his contract terminated on Wednesday.

Dalglish had led the Reds to their first trophy for six years with victory in the final of the Carling Cup against Cardiff, while they also lost out to Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Cup.

Yet the 61-year-old paid the price for Liverpool's poor form in the Premier League, where they failed to so much as flirt with a finish in the top four, and ended the season in eighth position.

Acquiring the services of Guardiola may be beyond ambitious for Liverpool, owing to the Catalan's intention to take a sabbatical following his resignation from his position at the Nou Camp.

But, according to The Guardian, Guardiola has been identified as the preferred candidate of Fenway Sports Group, who have already begun their search for a new manager in earnest.

Whether or not the Liverpool owners have approached the 41-year-old remains unclear, but they have already requested permission to speak to Wigan manager Roberto Martinez over the vacant role.

Source: Givemefootball.com