World Cup winner and ex-Everton defender Marco Materazzi believes Enzo Maresca would be an ideal replacement for Arne Slot should he leave Liverpool
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, and Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, embrace prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca and Arne Slot embrace before kick-off in October's Premier League clash between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Enzo Maresca has been told he is "the perfect coach to lead a rebuild" at Liverpool by former Everton defender Marco Materazzi.
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Materazzi, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, believes his fellow countryman, who was sacked as Chelsea boss in January, would be an ideal successor for Arne Slot, who has struggled in his second season at Anfield having won the Premier League title in his debut campaign
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Slot's side have been beaten 10 times in the Premier League, which equals the club's worst record for 10 years with seven games still left to play. It is also a record that leaves them 21 points behind leaders Arsenal and in a desperate fight to secure their place nin ext season's Champions League.
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Liverpool's other avenue of qualifying for the Champions League is by winning the competition itself. But they are on the verge of being knocked out after losing their quarter-final first leg 2-0 at holders Paris Saint-Germain.
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That defeat has heaped the pressure on Slot - and Materazzi has given his recommendation to Maresca, who won the Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League in the full season he was in charge at Stamford Bridge.
"Can Enzo Maresca make Real Madrid into champions again? Yes, why not!" Materazzi said of the ex-Manchester City youth coach to Hajper.
"He speaks very good Spanish because he was at Sevilla, but I think Maresca also has a good opportunity to get a job in the Premier League for next season too.
"Could Maresca be the next manager of Newcastle United? Not for me. Manchester United would be a good move for Maresca but heβs too connected to Manchester City to make that move.
"I think Liverpool would be the best fit for Maresca. He is the perfect coach to lead a rebuild at Liverpool to create a new vision for the team."
While the scrutiny has increased on Slot, there has been no suggestion that the Reds are looking to sack their manager.
But the Dutchman admitted earlier this year that failure to qualify for the Champions League would be "unacceptable."
Slot said: "Yes, if we don't have Champions League football, it is definitely not been an acceptable season. The season I arrived here, we could only sign Federico Chiesa and that was after a Europa League season.
"So it does have an enormous impact on the way this club is run. So I'm completely aware of that."
The fifth-placed Reds host Fulham on Saturday.