Clint Dempsey’s former coach says the U.S. international would thrive at Liverpool

Toronto FC manager Paul Mariner knows the English game; He made 35 Three Lions appearances back in the day of those shorty shorts, and Mariner once called the hallowed Highbury grounds of Arsenal his home club address.

Paul Mariner also knows Clint Dempsey; the Englishman was top assistant to Steve Nicol at New England when Dempsey came into the league, and remained second man at Gillette Stadium as Dempsey left for Fulham in 2007.

So what does Mariner say about Dempsey’s potential departure for Anfield, home of Liverpool FC?

He says “Go!”

Mariner believes Dempsey would thrive under Brendan Rodgers, the former Swansea manager currently schooling the Reds in his passing- and possession-oriented way. What Mariner told MLSSoccer.com about Dempsey:

He [Dempsey] is extremely technical, very comfortable with the ball, has an eye for a pass. He’s a very unselfish player, but if it’s there to finish, he’ll finish. If you think about him playing with [Steven] Gerrard and just underneath [Luis] Suárez in combination, that’s a pretty potent threesome there.”