Jurgen Klopp was 'second choice' of Liverpool's owners, Carlo Ancelotti was offered manager job according to Harry Redknapp

The German succeeded Brendan Rodgers at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp (GETTY IMAGES)

Jurgen Klopp was not Liverpool's first choice to succeed Brendan Rodgers, according to Harry Redknapp.

The former Premier League manager claims that Liverpool's owners moved for Carlo Ancelotti but when the Italian rejected their advances, they turned their attention to Klopp.

“I have heard from good sources that he [Ancelotti] was offered the Liverpool job," the former Tottenham and Bournemouth manager told talkSPORT. "I don’t think [he wanted it]. They spoke to him at some stage.”

Following Rodgers' dismissal, Klopp and Ancelotti were immediately linked with the vacancy before the German emerged as the front-runner and officially took the job.

The swiftness of the deal suggested the former Borussia Dortmund coach was Liverpool's preferred option but Redknapp's comments will cast doubt on that.

Before an appointment was made, Ancelotti suggested that had an approach for him have been made, he would have rejected it.

Carlo Ancelotti (2015 Getty Images)

"I enjoy my time now but of course I want to come back to manage - to work - because it is my passion," he said.

"I want to take my time to rest, but next season I am ready."

Speaking since Klopp's appointment, Ancelotti has made clear a return to the Premier League where he guided Chelsea to the double is his preference.

“I’d like to go back to the Premier League. It is the ideal environment not for football, but for the ‘game’ around football.

“You can work with the right amount of pressure, the necessary detachment and calm. Before I quit, I’d like to have another experience in England."

Klopp's first game in charge of Liverpool will be against Tottenham this weekend.