Liverpool supporters have been swarming social media since Saturday’s defeat against Nottingham Forest debating the future of head coach Arne Slot.
The Dutchman became an instant icon at Anfield last season after leading the Reds to the Premier League title at the first time of asking.
That achievement made it feel possible that Slot could be the Bob Paisley to Jurgen Klopp’s Bill Shankly, but that notion has taken an almighty dent this season.
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As Rousing The Kop exclusively reported on Monday, Slot retains the backing of FSG, and Liverpool are unlikely to make a managerial change before the end of the campaign as things stand.
According to the opinions of many Liverpool fans online, that is for the best simply because there are no viable replacements for Slot right now.
However, that suggestion is simply not true. Liverpool could pick from a whole world of potential managers if they decided Slot needed to go.
Arne Slot applauds after Liverpool's Premier League loss against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Nearly every manager is available to Liverpool
RTK have already outlined three managers who could improve Liverpool instantly, and there are many more out there who could do a better job than Slot currently is with this team.
Two of our picks – Andoni Iraola and Cesc Fabregas – are employed with different clubs at the moment, but that does not make them ‘unavailable.’
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Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
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By some supporters’ logic, Liverpool must only be able to appoint a manager if he is a free agent at the time. That is simply false.
Yes, there may be a financial penalty to pay for securing someone already in a position, but Liverpool will surely be prepared to fork out for the right candidate.
A club the size of the Reds will never, ever struggle to find a top manager to sit in the dugout. The job should be attractive to any and every coach worth his salt.
The likes of Xabi Alonso, for example are clearly unavailable – for now – but if Liverpool approached just about any other coach on the planet about taking over from Slot, they would be in with a very good chance of landing them.
Xabi Alonso could soon be up for grabs
Before Liverpool appointed Slot, there was wide-ranging debate about who could possibly take over from Klopp at Anfield.
Who could replace Arne Slot at Liverpool if he is sacked?
Arne Slot during Manchester City v Liverpool - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Andoni Iraola
Oliver Glasner
Jurgen Klopp
Cesc Fabregas
Steven Gerrard
Roberto De Zerbi
Before he ruled himself out of contention, Alonso was the first-choice of many Liverpool fans to fill the vacant position.
The Spaniard has since joined Real Madrid, but things are not going smoothly for him during his maiden campaign at the Bernabeu.
The Athletic cover an ongoing war between Alonso and Vinicius Jnr on Monday, with the former Liverpool midfielder seemingly at risk of losing the dressing room.
If Alonso suddenly becomes unemployed, then the narrative that ‘there’s no one who could replace Slot anyway’ would quickly shift.
Even if that does not happen, Liverpool fans need to forget the idea that nobody is out there who could do a better job. You name a coach, and nine point nine times out of ten they would be lucky to lead Liverpool.