The title-winning Ibrox boss was in discussions over a return to Glasgow before Danny Rohl was named as boss
13:01, 28 Nov 2025
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(Image: PA)
Rangers could have been turned down by Steven Gerrard as he was waiting on the call to become Liverpool interim boss. That is the theory being floated amid rocketing pressure on Arne Slot.
Before the appointment of Danny Rohl as Russell Martin's successor, Gerrard was locked in talks with chairman Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises but walked away after several rounds of discussions. The former England international – who ended Celtic 's stranglehold on the Scottish Premiership by bringing the title to Ibrox in 2021 – has admitted nagging doubts forced him to step away from a stunning return to Glasgow.
Gerrard has been out of work since leaving Al-Ettifaq in the midst of a disappointing Saudi Pro League season last term and speculation has ramped up that he could be appointed on an interim basis should Slot be axed. The Dutchman is facing major pressure as the Premier League champions sit 12th in the Premier League on 18 points after 12 matches.
They have lost six of their last seven matches and back-to-back humiliations at the hands of Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven have raised major questions over his future. He will lead the Reds in their must-win clash with West Ham this weekend after declaring he will "fight on" at Anfield.
And beIN Sports anchor Richard Keys has cryptically connected Gerrard and his Ibrox knock back to the situation at his former club. He posted to X: "There is no way Steven Gerrard didn’t know about the probability of this upcoming opportunity when he turned Rangers down.”
The man himself denied that Slot was facing a crisis at this stage - but warned that the players are "struggling massively" in the wake of defeat to PSV in the Champions League this week.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is facing sack calls after a shocking run of results
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is facing sack calls after a shocking run of results(Image: (Peter Byrne/PA Wire))
He told TNT Sports: “Each defeat, especially the manner of defeat, you become closer to the crisis. I don’t like using the word crisis because a crisis to me is a club that needs years to get back to the top.
“I don’t think Liverpool are at that point at all. They’ve still got magnificent players. This is still the majority of a squad that won the league a few months ago. So I think ‘crisis’ is too strong. But you can’t deny that this team is struggling massively.”
"No it's not [acceptable], they're conceding too many goals, they're wide open, they're vulnerable and unstable.
"Anfield tells a story, the seats are empty, PSV were excellent, comfortable here tonight and deserve the victory. Liverpool's problems become deeper, pressure intensifies even more and there needs to be soul searching for sure.”
Speculation has linked Jurgen Klopp with a blockbuster return to Merseyside if the board move on Slot, but Gerrard has already been back for the job by the German. While Gerrard was in charge of Aston Villa, Klopp openly said he thought Liverpool icon would follow in his footsteps.
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Asked in 2021 if he saw Gerrard as a future Reds boss, he said: "Oh yes I do, absolutely. I believe it will definitely happen. Good for everyone."