Xabi Alonso is reportedly being lined up as a potential successor to Arne Slot, with suggestions that the former Liverpool midfielder could be ready to return to Anfield if a managerial change takes place.
Pressure continues to mount on Slot following a 4-0 thrashing in the FA Cup last eight at the hands of Man City.
According to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, conversations with contacts in Spain have indicated that Alonso is the leading candidate to take charge at Liverpool.
Wyness suggested that belief in the current project is beginning to fade.
He says his contacts in Spain believe Alonso is effectively waiting for an opportunity to return to Anfield should the club decide to part ways with Slot.
Xabi Alonso’s name was sung by the Liverpool fans as they left the stadium.
pic.twitter.com/WrIWk2si3o
— Anfield Edition | æ (@AnfieldEdition) April 4, 2026
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I know that there are two things that a lot of my Liverpool friends and contacts are certainly moaning about Arne Slot just now.
“There’s been a real lack of belief. The Liverpool fan base, while they don’t want to go public with it, are certainly unhappy with the way the team’s been playing and performing.
“And Xabi Alonso, from my point of view and my contacts in Spain are saying that, yes, he would be the one in waiting to come back.”
Alonso, who previously spent five years at Liverpool during his playing career, remains a popular figure among supporters and is widely seen as the natural candidate to take on the managerial role.
FSG need to make a decision before the end of the season
If Liverpool are going to replace Slot, they certainly have more than enough reason to reach that conclusion as things stand.
[?] Fenway Sports Group have been supportive of Slot but the looming fixture list is full of potential potholes that could challenge their conviction.
[@_pauljoyce] https://t.co/8ZtnwGhwZP
— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) April 5, 2026
As a matter of fact, they could have sacked him after Slot oversaw a 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield in November. Things have only worsened since.
If they are going to keep him, they need to back their decision and make it clear that he isn’t going anywhere to end the speculation and restore some semblance of certainty back to the club.
The players gave up against Man City, as confirmed by Virgil van Dijk, which suggests that the rot is spreading.
The captain said: “Obviously, you come out of the dressing room with the right intentions to score and make it 2-1 and change the game, but the opposite happened and then to come back from 3-0 is obviously very difficult here.
“But also you shouldn’t give up, and that’s maybe what happened at a certain point.”