Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea has intensified speculation about Arne Slot's future at Anfield, with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola tipped as a potential successor by pundit Tony Cascarino
Amie Wilson Sports Writer
18:52, 11 May 2026
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Arne Slot manager / head coach of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Arne Slot's future has been subject of speculation amid a disappointing title defense(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA, Getty Images)
Liverpool have been tipped to replace Arne Slot with departing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola come the summer.
Speculation surrounding Slot's future at Anfield has intensified following the weekend's 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Widespread jeers rang out from the terraces at the final whistle, with certain sections of the crowd voicing their displeasure at the decision to bring off Rio Ngumoha.
The Reds made an ideal start when Ryan Gravenberch broke the deadlock in the sixth minute, only for Chelsea to equalize before the interval through Enzo Fernandez. The result leaves Liverpool sitting fourth in the Premier League table, in what has proven to be a disappointing title defense.
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It has prompted calls from some quarters for the club to part company with Slot, either immediately or at the conclusion of the season. Speaking on talkSPORT, former Chelsea striker and pundit Tony Cascarino offered his thoughts on what might unfold in the summer. "The booings are happening more regularly at Liverpool now," he said.
"I want Arne Slot to get to the end of the season and then Liverpool to make a call. I'm concerned because it's not good."
He went on to add: "He (sporting director Richard Hughes) brought him (Iraola) to Bournemouth and now he's at Liverpool. He did that negotiation. He was there. You have connections in football and people you deal with.
"Now, I'm putting two and two and making five, but it's not that unlikely that a club like Liverpool could look at him. He's done an incredible job at Bournemouth.
Andoni Iraola after his side's 1-0 win during the Premier League match between Fulham and Bournemouth at Craven Cottage.
Andoni Iraola was hired by Richard Hughes, Liverpool's current sporting director, back in 2023(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
"I look at Bournemouth and the way they play and the amount of talent that has just improved under him. Now, this is a guy that couldn't buy a win when he first got the job. And since then, his teams have literally been on Champions League form and they're not too far off the Champions League spots now."
Confirmation has already arrived that Iraola will depart Bournemouth at the conclusion of the current campaign, following three years in charge. The Cherries have already unveiled Marco Rose as his successor. "He's probably been offered something that's better. It's like when you're a player," Cascarino remarked regarding the Bournemouth manager.
"If you play brilliantly for a club at Bournemouth, like [Antoine] Semenyo or others, you get the vultures hanging over you and take you away to the bigger clubs. I'm sure he knows where he's going. We've got Marco Silva in that position. We don't quite know what the outcome is going to be. Obviously, Oliver Glasner as well at Crystal Palace.
"Don't tell me these guys don't know where they're going. Jurgen Klopp, that announcement, when it came out he was leaving Liverpool.
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"That was made in the November. It was kept on hold for four months before it came out. Seemingly no one knew.
"There obviously were a handful of people. But it's no different. These guys, I would imagine, would know exactly where their next destination is."
Iraola has earned widespread acclaim for his achievements at Bournemouth. The Cherries are currently positioned sixth in the table, with an outside possibility of securing Champions League qualification for the 2026/27 campaign.