There is a storm brewing at Anfield presently, with Liverpool struggling to find their feet in 2025/26. But while Arne Slot might be coming under growing pressure, supporters are far from happy about a list of five potential coaches who could replace him in the dugout.
Having stormed their way to the title in the Dutchman's debut year at the helm, there was an expectation that the Reds would be challenging back at the summit again in his sophomore year. And when they added the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez to their ranks, it seemed even more likely that they would defend their Premier League crown.
However, it's been far from plain sailing so far. Although Liverpool made a decent start to the new term, five league losses in their last six games have seen them drop to eighth in the table. The club continue to stand behind Slot, but that's not stopped speculation about his future.
Multiple Managers Linked With Liverpool Again
According to the Daily Mail's Lewis Steele, Liverpool continue to back Slot all the way, despite their poor run of form. Nevertheless, he cited five other head coaches who were linked with the club when Jurgen Klopp left in 2024, stating that several of them could be in the mix if the Reds sack their current gaffer.
Sebastian Hoeness has gained widespread recognition at Stuttgart, turning them into a Bundesliga club which secured Champions League qualification and the DFB Cup in 2025, after they had flirted with relegation prior to his arrival. Then there was Roberto De Zerbi, considered to be one of the most exciting young managers in the world. His Brighton side was a thorn for many top flight clubs, and he now has Marseille contending for the Ligue 1 title.
Girona head coach Michel, touted as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, was also appreciated by the Merseyside hierarchy when Klopp elected to leave Anfield. Girona finished third in 2023/24, although their performances did tail off the subsequent year as they fell to 16th in La Liga.
Fellow Spanish league manager Ernesto Valverde was among the five-strong shortlist, with the former Barcelona manager excelling at Athletic Bilbao since 2022. And Luciano Spalletti, now at Juventus, was also considered.
Supporters Unhappy With Slot Alternatives
Liverpool manager Arne Slot during their match against Real Madrid.
UEFA Champions League - Liverpool v Real Madrid - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 4, 2025 Liverpool manager Arne Slot REUTERS/Phil Noble
Although all five managers have accomplishments on their CVs, Liverpool supporters have been left wanting more from their options should they decide to move on from Slot. One fan, responding to the potential links, wrote:
"Extremely worrying list they compiled."
That sentiment was shared by many others, who would seemingly want to keep Slot rather than replace him with any of the other options. A fellow Liverpool fan said, "The state of that list…" while another added, "What an utterly terrible list…"
A final supporter, clearly unenthused by the shortlist of replacements, wrote: "Yeah do not sack Slot under any circumstances." Although the club seemingly do still have faith in their current manager, supporters will hope more reputable coaches become linked with them, should they decide to pull the plug.