Is it time for a change at Anfield? As Arne Slot battles to save his job, explore the top 4 candidates to lead Liverpool, including Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi, and the favourite for the role Xabi Alonso.
Liverpool were touted to be dominating the Premier League this season after winning the title and spending around £450 million in the summer to bolster the squad. However, things have not gone as planned for the Reds, and Arne Slot’s job is now on the line.
The fans have been calling for the manager’s sacking, as the results have not gone as expected. Many believed that the manager should not be ending the season in charge at the club, but the club’s decision-makers have shown no sign of sacking him.
However, their plans could change in the summer should Liverpool miss out on the UEFA Champions League next season.
We take a look at the four best possible replacements for Slot, should he get the sack at the end of the season.
4 – Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann should become available in the summer after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has extended his deal with DFB until EURO 2028, but the German is unlikely to remain in charge of the national team if a top club comes calling.
Liverpool should take the gamble and lure the former Bayern Munich coach in the summer, as he would fit the long-term plans at Anfield.
The squad suits the German’s tactics well, and the Reds would only need to add a couple of players for him to take them back to the top of the Premier League table.
3 – Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi is a surprise name mentioned in The Teleraph as a possible replacement for Arne Slot. The Italian is a free agent after parting ways with Marseille earlier this year. The 46-year-old has Premier League experience and has been linked with a move to Tottenham, who sacked Thomas Frank.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion manager would be an interesting pick, but his falling-out with the decision-makers at his last two clubs could be a red flag. However, in terms of tactics, he would fit the squad like a glove as he works well with young players and also has different systems that will work well at Anfield.
2 – Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso has been a free agent since January after he parted ways with Real Madrid. The Spaniard has not joined another club, and reports have linked the former midfielder with a return to Anfield.
Liverpool fans have been calling for Alonso to be appointed as the next manager, and he was linked with the job when Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to leave the club.
The manager has shown at Bayer Leverkusen that he can make the most of the squad built with a tight budget, and his knowledge of the Reds will also come in handy.
1 – Luis Enrique
Liverpool need to make a statement with their next appointment, and Luis Enrique is the best possible option. The Spaniard has shown at Barcelona and PSG that he can deliver results, which is exactly what the fans want at Anfield.
Enrique is yet to sign a new deal at PSG and has shown in recent months that he can set up his side to beat any club in the world.
The verdict: a defining summer for Anfield
The pressure on Arne Slot is reaching a boiling point, and while the Liverpool hierarchy has remained patient thus far, the reality of a £450 million investment yielding such inconsistent results cannot be ignored.
Missing out on Champions League football would not only be a financial blow but a symbolic end to the current project, making a managerial change almost inevitable.
The foundations at Anfield remain elite, but the “mental monsters” of old require a new architect to channel that £450 million potential into silverware.
This summer, the decision-makers in the boardroom face their most significant challenge since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp: find the right leader, or risk watching a golden era fade into mid-table mediocrity.
