Arne Slot has come under pressure following Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray on Tuesday, with Jurgen Klopp continue to be linked with a shock return to Anfield
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool would "love" to have Jurgen Klopp back if Arne Slot was to leave the club. That's according to ex-Reds forward John Aldridge, who has tipped the German to make a sensational return should Slot exit Anfield at the end of the season.
Klopp spent eight-and-a-half years at Liverpool before his departure in May 2024. During his time at the Reds, the ex-Mainz and Borussia Dortmund manager won eight trophies, including the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. He accumulated an impressive 60.9 per cent win record on Merseyside, winning 299 and drawing 109 of his 491 matches in charge.
Since his exit from Liverpool, Klopp took a short time out of work before returning to become the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull GmbH in January 2025. He has been in that role for the past 14 months, with Klopp overseeing the strategic vision and development of the entire Red Bull network, including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, and Red Bull Bragantino.
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Slot, meanwhile, replaced Klopp at Liverpool and won the Premier League title during his first season in 2024/25. However, despite spending more than £400million on new players last summer, the Reds have found life more challenging this campaign. Indeed, Slot's side sit sixth in the top flight, a mammoth 19 points behind leaders Arsenal and in a fight to seal a Champions League spot.
There has been some talk that Slot could be under pressure if Liverpool don't qualify for the Champions League or win a trophy before the end of the season, with the Reds still in Europe's elite club competition and the FA Cup. And Aldridge, who made 103 appearances for the Reds, scoring 63 times, has admitted he would welcome Klopp back with open arms if the club made the decision to axe Slot.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Aldridge said: "We've got a massive charity game at Anfield in a week and a half's time and I'm on the staff with Jurgen Klopp, so I'm going to ask him!
Jurgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager and Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull GmbH, walks off the pitch after the match between the New York Red Bulls and the CF Montréal at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey.
Jurgen Klopp is yet to return to frontline management since leaving Liverpool(Image: Caean Couto/Getty Images)
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"I think we've moved on from Jurgen, but we'd love him back if Arne Slot were to go, obviously you would, because what he did for us, the passion he brought to the team, the club, and the fans was Bill Shankly-esque.
"If Arne Slot were to go, we’d love him to come back. But it doesn't work like that, does it? If he wanted to go to Real Madrid, then good luck to him. Good luck to him, as long as when he plays against Liverpool in the Champions League in years to come, I’d want him to play his reserves!"
Aldridge and Klopp are set to work together during a Liverpool FC Legends game against Borussia Dortmund later this month, with ex-Reds midfielder Steven Gerrard among the others on show.
As for Liverpool's first-team squad, the Reds are next in action when they face Tottenham on Sunday.
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