Arne Slot is facing the biggest test of his Liverpool tenure after Wednesday night’s uninspiring draw with Sunderland left supporters and pundits questioning whether the Dutchman can arrest a slide that has seen the club fall to 12th in the Premier League.
Nine defeats from twelve matches in all competitions is a far cry from the title-winning form Slot’s side produced last season, and the mood around Anfield has shifted considerably. When Liverpool appointed him to succeed Jurgen Klopp, widely regarded as one of the most difficult jobs in management, few expected such a rapid deterioration in form. The club backed him heavily in the summer transfer window, with significant funds directed towards attacking reinforcements, and many in the industry tipped them for a comfortable title defence. That optimism feels a long time ago now.
The loss of form from Mo Salah has been particularly troubling, and it has not gone unnoticed in the wider football world. Several bookmakers have already opened markets on who the next Liverpool manager will be, a telling sign of how quickly sentiment can turn. Defeat to West Ham this weekend would only intensify that speculation, with sources suggesting patience inside the club is wearing thin.
Klopp, who departed Anfield at the end of last season and has since taken up a role as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull, has surfaced as a genuine name in the early betting. He has previously said he is finished with club management for the time being, but his inclusion near the top of the market reflects just how unsettled things have become. Whether Liverpool would consider such a move, and whether Klopp himself would entertain it, remains a matter of considerable debate among supporters.
Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner are attracting serious attention as potential candidates. Iraola has won widespread admiration for the work he has done at Bournemouth, building a side with clear tactical identity and relentless pressing, while Glasner has transformed Crystal Palace into a well-organised and progressive outfit that has caught the eye of several clubs. Both fit the kind of profile Liverpool have typically looked for when making managerial appointments.
Xabi Alonso sits second in the betting and his name carries obvious appeal on Merseyside given his playing career at the club. The former midfielder is currently in charge of Real Madrid and is considered one of the brightest coaching talents in Europe. However, extracting him from his current role would be far from straightforward given his standing at the Bernabeu and Madrid’s own long-term plans.
Further down the market, Steven Gerrard, Julian Nagelsmann, Unai Emery and Zinedine Zidane all feature as longer-shot contenders. Each brings a different kind of pedigree and availability, though Gerrard’s recent record in management would invite scrutiny despite the emotional pull his appointment would carry.
Slot retains the support of the club for now and there is still time for results to improve. But the atmosphere has undeniably changed. Supporters who were celebrating a league title just months ago are now openly questioning the direction of the team, and the coming weeks will go a long way to deciding whether this is a temporary blip or the beginning of a more significant change at Anfield.
| Candidate | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jurgen Klopp | 2/1 |
| Andoni Iraola | 5/1 |
| Oliver Glasner | 6/1 |
| Xabi Alonso | 6/1 |
| Steven Gerrard | 10/1 |
| Julian Nagelsmann | 10/1 |
| Unai Emery | 10/1 |
| Zinedine Zidane | 12/1 |
