Liverpool know that they may soon be having to find themselves a new manager as they continue to slide under Arne Slot.
It has been more than 10 years since the Reds last relieved a head coach of his duties, but they must do so again if Slot cannot turn things around.
Should the Dutchman’s time at Anfield come to an end, there will be a number of candidates who Liverpool will consider to replace him.
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Will defeat to West Ham be the end of Arne Slot at Liverpool?
Arne Slot puts his hand over his face during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League loss against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
One of those should be former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard is cutting his teeth with Como in Serie A and looks like a top manager in the making.
Although Fabregas played for two of Liverpool’s Premier League big six rivals, his past comments on playing at Anfield suggest he would be open to making a sensational move to Merseyside.
Cesc Fabregas always wanted to play for Liverpool
Como have been one of the stories of Italian football once again this season. Having been guided to a 10th-place finish by Fabregas last year, they currently sit in sixth.
The Lariani have lost only one of 13 Serie A matches this season, beating Sassuolo 2-0 on Friday evening to continue their fantastic start to the campaign.
Cesc Fabregas, head coach of Como looks on during the Serie
Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images
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For Fabregas, bigger things will surely await. And although Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona fans will be keeping him in mind for a future appointment, Liverpool may have the chance to beat them all to the World Cup winner.
READ MORE: What Xabi Alonso is thinking at Real Madrid amid rumours he could replace Arne Slot
If Slot goes, there will be a legitimate argument that Fabregas is the right man to replace him. It would be bold from the Liverpool owners, sure, but the signs are there that the former midfielder is special.
As it happens, Fabregas appears to have always had a soft spot for Liverpool as well. Asked by SportBIBLE in April 2024 to name which fanbase he thinks is the best, the 38-year-old surprisingly opted for Liverpool.
“One fanbase I would’ve liked to experience being a player of that team would have been the Liverpool fans,” Fabregas said. “In a cup game or in the semi-finals of the Champions League at Anfield. Why not, once I would have liked to experience it.”
Plenty of former Liverpool players are currently in management positions
Would you take any of them back at Anfield?
Xabi Alonso – Real Madrid
Javier Mascherano – Inter Miami
Albert Riera – Celje
Igor Biscan – Al Ahli (Qatar)
Dirk Kuyt – FC Dordrecht
Nuri Sahin – Istanbul Basaksehir
Fernando Torres – Atletico Madrid B
Alvaro Arbeloa – Real Madrid Castilla
FBL-OLY-PARIS-2024-FRA-ARG
Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images
Fabregas likely to be on Liverpool’s list of candidates
Clearly, it is too late for Fabregas to experience being a Liverpool player at Anfield. But he could yet taste the next best thing.
Taking emotions out of the equation, there is an argument to be had that Fabregas is the most exciting young manager in the European game right now.
His Como side play a fast-moving passing game which has echoes of Slot’s Liverpool at their best. The style would translate seamlessly.
A lack of experience may hinder him, but FSG have shown that they are willing to take a gamble on a young coach if they feel he is the best fit. They did so when hiring Brendan Rodgers in 2012, and Fabregas already has more top-level experience than the Northern Irishman had at the time.
Some would assume that his past as a rival may make him an automatic one to avoid for Liverpool, but with Fabregas seemingly open to an association with the Reds, he is currently ticking more than one box. If Slot goes, expect him to be in the mix.
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