Arne Slot is in enduring his worst run of form in charge of Liverpool with pressure building after the Reds defeat to PSV in the Champions League
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is under pressure after nine defeats in their last 12 games.
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Xabi Alonso is now the leading contender to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool, should the Reds choose to dismiss the Dutch head coach. The 47-year-old is feeling the heat as Liverpool's struggles in both the Premier League and Champions League continue.
This is a stark change from last season, when the Reds were formidable across all competitions, clinching the Premier League title.
Despite an astonishing £446m transfer expenditure this summer, breaking the British transfer record twice, Liverpool's performances have declined.
The sum marks the highest ever spent by a Premier League club in a single window, surpassing Chelsea's £434.5m outlay in the summer of 2023.
Liverpool have suffered defeats in nine of their last 12 matches in all competitions and were thrashed by Eredivisie team PSV at Anfield in the Champions League earlier this week.
The most recent disappointing loss has fuelled rumours about Slot's future at the club, with former Liverpool midfielder Alonso being linked with the position. The Liverpool Echo understands that no decision on severing ties with Slot is imminent.
This isn't the first time the ex-Spanish international has been associated with the managerial role at Anfield, having been widely linked during his tenure as Bayer Leverkusen boss.
However, Real Madrid acted swiftly to secure Alonso's services, appointing him to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu over the summer.
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso.(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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Following Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, Alonso was a 16/1 shot to replace Slot, as per Oddschecker.
Those odds have now plummeted to 5/2 with some bookies, with Alonso now overtaking Jurgen Klopp as the favourite to take the reins at Anfield at the time of writing.
Despite downplaying a return to management earlier this year, Klopp is still in contention according to the bookmakers. "I said I will never coach a different team in England," he disclosed on the Diary of a CEO podcast.
"So that means if it's Liverpool, yeah. So yeah, theoretically it's possible."
When quizzed about whether Slot feared for his job after the PSV defeat, he responded: "No, I am not worried. My focus is on other things than worrying about my own position. I need to do better."
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola are also among the favourites to step into the Anfield hot seat, should Slot lose his position.
Liverpool are set to face West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.