Arne Slot is under massive pressure
Saturday night saw another disappointing result etched into the history books for Arne Slot. Whether the 3-2 loss against Bournemouth will decide the Dutchman's future remains to be seen, but there is certainly much pressure on him right now.
He won the league last year, and while that is a hugely commendable achievement, to spend £450million on new players and then fall off a cliff the following season leaves you with more questions than answers.
Whether Liverpool will follow Chelsea and Manchester United in making a mid-season change is unclear, but if Slot does wave goodbye before the end of the campaign, there is a very suitable candidate for the job.
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Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast in late 2023, football heroes Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer earmarked Xabi Alonso as a potential replacement for Jurgen Klopp.
Now two years on, their words are as relevant today as they were then. Alonso left his position as Real Madrid manager in early January after just eight months in charge and is now available to new clubs.
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Shearer said: "He [Alonso] is getting rave reviews isn’t he? He’s started his coaching and managerial career really well. It won’t be long if he keeps on going before others are starting to look at him if they haven’t already and then you never know do you?"
Lineker replied: "I think there’s every chance that once Carlo Ancelotti walks away or is pushed out as is often the case at Real Madrid, he might end up there as manager of a certain Jude Bellingham. Also, he could possibly follow (Jurgen) Klopp further down the line. With these things, you always do, don't you. There is always going to be (Steven) Gerrard."
Shearer responded: "In 12 months time that might all change. But, it does look as though he’s going to be around for a long time at the top doesn’t he?"
As a player, Alonso enjoyed a stellar career at the elite level of the game, playing for Liverpool, Madrid and Bayern Munich. After his playing career, Alonso announced himself to the management world by turning Bayer Leverkusen into European heavyweights.
Xabi Alonso was heavily linked with the Liverpool job before taking on the Real Madrid role
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Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
They became the first Bundesliga team to go undefeated in a season, finishing 51 games unbeaten across all competitions in the 2023/2024 season.
Despite securing the dream managerial move to Madrid, things didn't work out for him. Alonso was at the helm for only a season and became the 11th manager to last less than a single campaign under club president Florentino Perez.
With so many big names and personalities at Madrid, Alonso had a hard time managing them all. Vinicius Jr stormed down the tunnel after being substituted late on in the El Clasico a few months ago, with Fede Valverde publicly voicing his frustrations at being selected as a full-back.
Vinicius issued an apology, but to everyone except Alonso. Clearly, there was a disconnect at Madrid, and now Alonso will be looking for a new challenge.
Just five days ago, Spanish publication Marca revealed that Alonso would be taking a break from management to spend a few months with his family in San Sebastian. However, it also said that if Liverpool come calling before July, all bets are off, and Alonso would accept the offer and get started. "To Liverpool, we all know, he will go soon. Sooner or later," it reads.