Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant says the Reds should make an unthinkable move for Pep Guardiola ahead of his imminent Man City exit after 10 years at the club
11:53, 20 May 2026
Pep Guardiola is set to leave Man City.
Pep Guardiola is set to leave Man City.(Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has claimed that Pep Guardiola "would love" to manage Liverpool. He is expected to leave Manchester City this summer.
Pennant has been critical of Arne Slot in recent weeks, with Liverpool looking to secure a place in the Champions League on the final day against Brentford. The Dutchman won the league a year ago, but the Reds have since struggled for consistent performances and results in the last few months.
"Of course," Pennant said on talkSPORT when asked if he would welcome Guardiola. "Who wouldn’t? Every team on the planet would like Pep as their manager.
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"He'd love to (manage Liverpool). Look at the Kop when you walk out. 100 per cent. The atmosphere — he'd love to play in that."
This week, Mohamed Salah came out to suggest that Liverpool has moved away from the style of play that he feels is most likely to bring success to Anfield.
That has only increased the chatter around Slot's future. Come the summer, the Dutchman will only have a year remaining on the contract he signed when he replaced Jurgen Klopp in 2024.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)
“I wasn’t surprised," Jamie Carragher said when he was asked about Salah's statement, which was posted out of the blue on Saturday, as the FA Cup final played out.
"I told everybody at Sky behind the scenes, my friends who were Liverpool fans, I said something else will come [from Salah] before the end of the season. He will drop another bomb.
"A little bit like what Cristiano Ronaldo did on the way out of Manchester United. I thought it may come after the end of the season when he sort of moved on, but no.
"On this show (Stick To Football), less than two years ago, I called him selfish for doing an interview, and that rings true again.
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"Liverpool have a really important week this week, still not qualified for the Champions League, and it should be about Liverpool FC, not Salah FC, but unfortunately, it’s going to be about Mohamed Salah."
Liverpool.com says: Guardiola leaving will be seismic for Manchester City. The whole club is built in his image.
Ironically, given the pressure that Arne Slot is under at the moment, he is the template for Enzo Maresca, who is expected to take over at the Etihad side. Slot won the league at the first time of asking at Liverpool having taken over from another Premier League legend in Jurgen Klopp.