Liverpool has struggled for consistency this season and lost once again over the weekend against Manchester United, with Arne Slot under pressure to find solutions
16:59, 04 May 2026
Gary Lineker has given his thoughts
Gary Lineker has given his thoughts(Image: Getty Images)
Gary Lineker says he would be tempted to replace Arne Slot with Xabi Alonso if the decision was up to him, even though Liverpool is set to qualify for the Champions League.
Losing 3-2 against Manchester United at the weekend, the narrative around the Reds has started to turn again, despite recent victories over Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace. Those successive wins, at the same time as Chelsea going on a losing streak that saw Liam Rosenior lose his job, have ensured that a place in the top five is almost secured.
However, while the expectation seems to be that Slot will be the man at the helm next season after winning the Premier League title only 12 months ago, Lineker thinks a change should be considered.
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"Would Slot be there next season?" Lineker asked Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast.
"11 defeats in the Premier League, still in the Champions League positions. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Xabi Alonso there next season... I wouldn’t be surprised."
"I think where the scrutiny comes is the signings because they've not worked," Richards said, with Shearer shaking his head in agreement.
Pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer has also offered his thoughts
Pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer has also offered his thoughts(Image: BBC Sport)
"Alexander Isak has been injured, Florian Wirtz has not been at the level we all expect, Jeremie Frimpong is your right winger, your right-back, it's not really working out.
"Milos Kerkez has been a shadow of the player who was at Bournemouth. I don't know if that's pressure or if that's the system.
"Liverpool are too slow, too passive, they're too easy to play against. What you normally associate Liverpool with is being aggressive, hard to beat, work rate — especially under Jurgen Klopp — and they're none of those things.
"I'd like the manager to get a chance to turn those things around."
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Shearer agreed with Richards that Slot will be afforded the opportunity to return his team to the top. "I think so," he added.
"I think in terms of what he did last season and winning the league, manager of the season. With the issues and the problems they've had at Liverpool this year, then yeah, I do. If it were my choice, I would have him as manager, yeah."
Liverpool.com says: Slot deserves the chance to turn things around. With the likes of Isak fully fit, this season would have gone differently, even if he should have done some things differently too.
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There have been mistakes, but he won the Premier League title only a year ago.