A theory has emerged over Steven Gerrard turning down the Rangers job earlier this season, with Arne Slot under pressure at Liverpool
Steven Gerrard.
Steven Gerrard has been working as a pundit since his last managerial job
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A theory has surfaced suggesting why Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard may have declined the Rangers managerial position. The former Reds captain has been without a managerial role since his departure from Saudi Pro League team Al-Ettifaq in January.
Arne Slot currently holds the reins at Liverpool, but his position at Anfield has been under pressure of late. The Reds have suffered nine defeats in their last 12 games across all competitions and presently sit in 12th place in the Premier League standings.
Liverpool have also conceded defeat in their last three matches by a three-goal margin, letting in 10 goals during this period. Consequently, rumours are doing the rounds about the Anfield hierarchy and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) contemplating a change. However, Slot is understood to maintain the board's backing for the time being.
Gerrard has previously been tentatively linked with the Liverpool managerial role, and these rumours have intensified given the club's recent run of defeats.
Earlier in the season, the 45-year-old was reportedly on the brink of a return to Rangers, but a move to the Scottish Premiership giants never came to fruition as he ultimately withdrew from contention despite engaging in discussions, reports the Mirror.
Rangers subsequently appointed Danny Rohl as their new manager to succeed Russell Martin, with Gerrard now serving as a pundit.
TV presenter Richard Keys has speculated that Gerrard might not have accepted the Rangers job due to the potential opportunity of replacing Slot at Liverpool looming.
"There is no way Steven Gerrard didn’t know about the probability of this upcoming opportunity when he turned Rangers down," Keys wrote on X on Thursday evening.
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Despite Gerrard being linked with replacing Slot as Liverpool manager, it appears highly unlikely that the former midfielder will take the Anfield job in the near future, given his recent struggles at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia.
One other significant factor concerns tax, with Gerrard potentially facing a £10million bill should he accept a managerial position in the UK before April. The former Liverpool captain must remain outside the country for a full tax year to ensure his earnings remain tax-free.
Gerrard is currently permitted to return to the UK for 91 days during the present tax year. Consequently, if the Liverpool legend were to accept a managerial position in the UK before April, he would need to be in the country for longer than that and would exceed the threshold.
Following Liverpool's 4-1 Champions League defeat to PSV in midweek, Gerrard expressed his backing for Slot amid the continued speculation.
“Each defeat, especially the manner of defeat, you become closer to the crisis,” Gerrard said during his appearance on TNT Sports. “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.”
Slot will be determined to get Liverpool back to winning ways as soon as possible, with a Premier League away trip against West Ham to come on Sunday.