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Liverpool fans spent last season believing Arne Slot could do no wrong. A year on, the Dutchman is struggling badly.
A woeful Premier League title defence under the 47-year-old hit rock bottom on Friday night. A humbling defeat at Villa Park has amplified the mounting pressure from an enraged fanbase, criticism that could soon render Slot's position as head coach unsustainable.
While Liverpool's hierarchy appears to be standing behind him, poor performances and equally poor results mean Slot is far from safe. Xabi Alonso's switch to Chelsea may have denied the Reds their preferred candidate, but there are several credible managerial options available this summer.
Should the pressure become overwhelming, Liverpool may be compelled to make a change. Here are four potential successors for Slot in that scenario.
Andoni Iraola
Alonso's fellow Spaniard Andoni Iraola is arguably the strongest candidate for Liverpool. The 43-year-old will depart Bournemouth at the end of the current campaign and has yet to decide on his next destination, leaving the door open should the Reds opt to make a managerial change.
Iraola's credentials make him an attractive prospect. Having revitalized Bournemouth despite repeatedly losing key players to Europe's top clubs, he is undeniably deserving of the chance to manage a major side, even if appointing the Basque coach would be seen as a risk for a club of Liverpool's stature.
Bournemouth, who could still secure Champions League football this season — potentially by overtaking Liverpool — have evolved into a dynamic, attack-minded team under Iraola, whose principles and tactical outlook would inject renewed excitement at Anfield. The gegenpressing style that Mohamed Salah has sorely missed since Jürgen Klopp's exit could be restored.
Iraola has a strong record of developing players, with Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Antoine Semenyo and Dominic Solanke all examples of talents nurtured and sold for substantial fees. His established Premier League experience also checks another box for Liverpool, with Iraola requiring no adjustment period to the demands of England's top flight.
The 43-year-old may not be the most headline-grabbing appointment available, but he could prove to be the shrewdest.
Julian Nagelsmann
Any pursuit of Julian Nagelsmann would come with its share of complications. The 38-year-old is set to guide Germany at this summer's World Cup and would not be available until after the tournament ends — if he becomes available at all. He also hasn't managed at club level since March 2023, when he was dismissed by Bayern Munich.
Nevertheless, there is a reason both Bayern and then Germany placed their trust in Nagelsmann. The young manager has accumulated considerable experience despite still being in his 30s, and continues to impress with his tactical intelligence and long-term potential. Much like when signing players, upside can sometimes matter just as much as current form.
Nagelsmann produced outstanding work at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before his move to Bayern and was somewhat harshly let go in Bavaria. Having guided Die Roten to the Bundesliga title in his first season and winning 71% of his matches across all competitions, the German was unexpectedly dismissed with two months remaining in his second campaign.
Perhaps his greatest challenge at Bayern was managing the dressing room, as several key players turned on him and he struggled to regain control of a deteriorating situation. Even so, few foresaw such a sudden end to his time at the club, given the positive results he had delivered on the pitch.
Cesc Fàbregas
Chelsea have turned to a former Red in their quest for success, and Liverpool could respond by taking a chance on a former Blues midfielder. Cesc Fàbregas has long been regarded as a rising managerial talent to monitor, and a highly impressive tenure with Italian club Como has only bolstered his growing reputation, naturally drawing speculation linking the Spaniard to top European clubs.
Fàbregas may not have an extensive managerial portfolio, but what he has accomplished at Como warrants serious recognition. Taking charge of the newly-promoted Serie A outfit at the start of the 2024–25 season, the 39-year-old guided them to safety and a respectable 10th-place finish, surprising many observers. An even more remarkable campaign has followed in 2025–26, with Como currently sitting fifth and still in contention for Champions League qualification.
Fàbregas's assured and methodical style has worked brilliantly at Como, who lead Serie A in both possession and clean sheets this season. The former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder has consistently demonstrated his tactical intelligence, making his side extremely hard to break down while also thrilling to watch in transition. Only champions Inter average more goals than Como.
They do not press with the same relentlessness as Iraola's Bournemouth or Klopp's Liverpool, preferring instead a mid-block and carefully selecting their moments to engage. However, Fàbregas has shown himself to be a tactically adaptable coach who could certainly raise the intensity if the situation demanded it.
A move to Liverpool or another elite club may come too early, but Fàbregas is undoubtedly on a trajectory toward the very top.
Sebastian Hoeneß
A cult pick as Slot's replacement, Sebastian Hoeneß absolutely deserves to be part of the conversation for roles of this magnitude. The cap-wearing 44-year-old has built a reputation as one of Europe's most compelling coaches, with a stint at Hoffenheim as one of Nagelsmann's successors followed by a hugely successful spell at Stuttgart.
Die Schwaben were rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga when Hoeneß arrived, and the German steered them to safety through the relegation playoff. They would go on to flourish, climbing from 16th to second the following season and making a long-awaited return to the Champions League.
League form dipped last season as Stuttgart balanced European and domestic commitments, but claiming the DFB Pokal was another landmark achievement driven by Hoeneß. This season, a fourth-place finish has been complemented by yet another run to the German cup final.
The hallmark of his success has been intense, direct football built on hard running and aggressive pressing. Stuttgart suffocate opponents and transition quickly, ensuring they possess one of the most potent attacking units in the Bundesliga. Only Bayern netted more than their 71 league goals this season.
A manager clearly shaped by Klopp's pressing philosophy could be the ideal fit.