Arne Slot saw his Liverpool side fall to a ninth defeat in 12 on Wednesday.placeholder image
Arne Slot saw his Liverpool side fall to a ninth defeat in 12 on Wednesday. | Getty Images
Why Liverpool could face a major issue if they decide to sack Arne Slot in the coming weeks
Arne Slot’s job at Liverpool might come under serious threat soon, after the Reds fell to another unacceptable defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Despite the match being level at half-time thanks to a Dominik Szoboszlai strike, the visitors scored three times in the second period to stun the Anfield crowd once again and turn things from bad to worse for Liverpool.
Whether FSG and the Liverpool board would seriously consider sacking Slot after his Premier League title-winning exploits last season remains a mystery, but there is no doubt that the Dutchman is now under pressure and conversations could be going on behind the scenes - though Slot appears confident in his position for the moment.
But one major question, which could develop into a concerning issue, remains if the Reds do decide that the best course of action is to part ways with Slot and appoint a new head coach in the coming weeks or months.
Who could Liverpool actually appoint to replace Slot if he is sacked?
Sacking Slot would raise many questions of Liverpool, but one key issue stands out – who would they appoint in his place?
As does the even more outlandish idea that Xabi Alonso could depart Real Madrid after just six months to take over at Anfield, but the Spaniard is the bookies’ favourite to take the job according to sources such as The Mirror. Though the former Liverpool midfielder taking over at Anfield one day is a firm possibility, it would be an almighty shock if he were to do so right now.
So, therefore, who are the genuine candidates to take over at Liverpool if Slot were to be sacked?
Premier League duo linked but lack of managerial options is concerning
Though there is a genuine possibility that Klopp could agree to return to Anfield, particularly if he is tasked with ‘saving’ the club from their current predicament so to speak, the lack of other managerial options on the market makes for concerning viewing.
The likes of Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner have been touted as options after highly successful periods in the Premier League, but neither have managed at a club the size of Liverpool before and could be a risky mid-season move. Whether Glasner would depart Crystal Palace, who have beaten the Reds three times this season, is another question.
Beyond that, there appears to be a shortage of potential candidates altogether. The reality is that Liverpool’s board went through an extensive recruitment process in order to decide that Slot was the right man back in spring 2024, in which they had several months to make a decision by May and saw the benefits of that planning last season.
This time around, to appoint a relatively unproven manager mid-way through a season with very little planning would be a significant change of tune. Unless, of course, Klopp wants to return, but there are no guarantees that would be the right move for the club either.
Could it be that Liverpool already have the right man for the job in-house, and he just needs a little time to turn things around?
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