Arne Slot faces a crucial day in his Liverpool tenure on Sunday as the Reds meet West Ham at the London Stadium.
After losing six of their previous seven Premier League games, there is a chance the Liverpool owners decide to sack Slot if his team are beaten heavily once again.
It is not ideal timing for the club, who rarely choose to make managerial changes mid-season, but it is also clear that they cannot carry on in this manner.
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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
Part of the reluctance to sack Slot comes from the feeling that there are not many managers out there who could replace him midway through the season.
According to broadcaster Richard Keys, however, Liverpool already know who they want to succeed Slot, it is just a case of playing a waiting game.
Liverpool want Luis Enrique to replace Arne Slot
Since they met in the Champions League last-16 last season, there has been a feeling that Liverpool are trying to emulate PSG’s tactical approach.
While that has so far fallen flat under Slot, Keys has claimed that the overall plan is to simply cut out the middle man and bring Luis Enrique to the club.
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Photo by Franco Arland – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
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But with the Spaniard highly unlikely to leave PSG in the middle of what could be another exceptional season for them, the presenter has suggested that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard could be installed as an interim in the meantime.
“Did Steven Gerrard have any idea that this situation was developing when he said no to Rangers recently? I’m just asking the question,” Keys said live on beIN SPORTS.
“I think long-term they want Luis Enrique. I think there’s little to no chance Paris would allow that to happen, but maybe Luis Enrique harbours an ambition to manage in the Premier League. That’s not going to happen now, so they may need a babysitter.”
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“One fanbase I would’ve liked to experience being a player of that team would have been the Liverpool fans. 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.”
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“Now, Steven may have tax issues that require him to continue to live in Bahrain, but I’m sure in football if people want something to happen it generally does. I don’t believe Liverpool’s hierarchy could not have had conversations about it [sacking Slot].”
When does Luis Enrique’s contract expire?
While Enrique would clearly be a dream replacement for Slot, it does seem unlikely that Liverpool could pull it off.
The 55-year-old signed a new two-year deal at the Parc Des Princes in February, with his current contract set to run until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Naturally, this does not mean Enrique will not become available before then, but there seems little chance of him leaving his post at PSG either through his will or the club’s.
If that does somehow happen or Liverpool feel they can convince him to join next summer, then absolutely they should pursue that. Enrique is a brilliant manager who would surely thrive in the Premier League.
For now, though, Liverpool can dream all they like. If Slot goes they will have to choose from a pool of less accomplished options.
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