Jamie Carragher has voiced his concerns about Liverpool sticking with Arne Slot, warning that an Erik ten Hag-like situation could be on the horizon.
There are several parallels between Brendan Rodgers’ last season and this campaign under Slot.
Coming off the back of a brilliant campaign – a league title-winning season in Slot’s case – there were big changes over the summer and the coach’s principles seemed to waver.
FSG chose to stick with Rodgers until October of the following season, but he was thereafter sacked when Jurgen Klopp became available.
This year’s scenario is somewhat trickier for the owners to navigate.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot on the bench before the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alonso isn’t quite as surefire a bet as Klopp – though the German didn’t arrive with guaranteed success at the time – and unlike back in 2015, should they wait until October, the favourite to replace the manager could be gone.
Former Liverpool player Alonso is now being linked to the vacant Chelsea job and is reportedly “open to the possibility” of replacing Liam Rosenior.
On Sky Sports, Carragher referenced Man United‘s decision to wait until October to sack Ten Hag in 2024, two-and-a-half years into his reign:
“I don’t even think it’s a 50-50 split now on Arne Slot, and I know people outside of the club can’t get their heads round it.
“They think, ‘This guy won the league, he looks like he’s going to get you Champions League football [in his] second season’.
“But the drop-off has been so stark and there’s been no improvement really from day one until the end of the season in results or performances that you think, ‘Is it going to get any better?’
“My worry with Arne Slot and Liverpool is, are we going to be in a situation a little bit like Ten Hag where he had a great first season?
“He didn’t win the league – Slot won the league, that’s a completely different level – but the second season was really poor.
“Then they keep the manager on the back of what he did in his first season and then it carries on poorly, and then you’re getting to October or November and thinking you’ve got to change the manager.
“I think that’s a little bit of a fear with Liverpool supporters, but it looks from the things that we’re hearing that Arne Slot is going to be given another opportunity next season.”
Xabi Alonso “would go to Liverpool,” believes Jamie Carragher
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, November 5, 2024: Bayer Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso waves to the Liverpool supporters after the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool FC and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While UK media are insisting that Slot’s job is safe this summer – Merseyside reported is the latest to claim Liverpool are “ready to pass” on Alonso – many supporters feel differently.
Carragher is among those who would consider appointing Alonso and was asked whether missing out on the Spaniard would be a missed opportunity.
“It might be, yes. I always felt Xabi would manage Liverpool at some stage,” the pundit replied.
“Now, I think once you manage one of Liverpool’s rivals, as Chelsea are, I think it makes it a little bit more difficult.
“I don’t see how you go from Chelsea to Liverpool. Maybe a little bit down the road but I think it makes it more difficult.
“He has to do what’s best for him right now and I think there will be Liverpool supporters right now thinking, ‘That’s the one we want’.”
Liverpool, England - Saturday, September 1, 2007: Liverpool's Xabi Alonso celebrates scoring the fourth goal against Derby County during the Premiership match at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Even if Slot does stay at Anfield, Liverpool hopefully wouldn’t make the same mistake as Man United, who allowed Ten Hag to spend £50 million on Manuel Ugarte, £42m on Matthijs de Ligt and £37m on Joshua Zirkzee.
Liverpool’s signings this summer should be a good fit for the club going forward if there were a new coach, if the ‘sporting director and head coach’ model is working correctly.
Carragher finished: “There will be a feeling I think from a lot of Liverpool supporters that Xabi Alonso’s there, and if we wanted him, I think he would come to us because of his history with the club.
“But it looks like the club have made their decision on Slot. And it tells you they’ve made their decision on Slot is the fact that there are talks going between Xabi Alonso and Chelsea.
“If there was an inkling that Liverpool were interested in him or he was going to go there and they were going to change the manager, I think he would go to Liverpool.”