Would Liverpool Ditch Arne Slot To Lure Xabi Alonso Back To Anfield?

Arne Slot is believed to still have the backing of Liverpool's top brass, while Xabi Alonso is reportedly not on the club's radar as a potential replacement, even if the Dutch manager were to be dismissed, according to a recent report.

Following a stellar debut season, things have gone dramatically wrong for Slot in his second year at the helm. The extent of Liverpool's decline is best illustrated by the reaction to their Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain: many supporters were simply relieved to escape without a heavy defeat.

Well off the pace of Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race, Liverpool are now fighting for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Slot has previously stated his confidence in retaining his position regardless of where Liverpool finish in the Premier League—pointing to Jürgen Klopp's own absence from European competition—and it seems that confidence is well-founded.

In a direct response during a Q&A segment for The Athletic, David Ornstein was firm in stating that Liverpool plan to stand by Slot. When the possibility of Alonso was raised, the respected journalist dismissed any external speculation as baseless rumor, repeatedly stating he had heard nothing of the sort. "People might not like to hear that," he wrote, "and if I'm proved wrong you can all laugh at me."

This unexpected position raises a number of questions about Liverpool's uncertain future both this season and going forward.

Why Are Liverpool So Keen on Keeping Arne Slot?

As previously reported, Liverpool's continued trust in Slot is rooted in the belief that he has been dealt an unfortunate hand and remains the right person to guide the club through this difficult period. This is, after all, the same manager who led the club to their second-ever Premier League championship.

However, since that title win, Slot has had to manage a squad deeply affected by the tragic loss of Diogo Jota.

There has also been the challenge of integrating numerous new signings who have been hampered by an unexpected injury crisis. Alexander Isak had barely recovered from a freak leg fracture before Hugo Ekitiké ruptured his Achilles tendon in a slip. The two forwards arrived in the same summer as Florian Wirtz for a combined outlay of $432.8 million (£320 million), yet have managed just 116 minutes on the pitch together.

As Slot himself has noted, he feels "complete support" from club owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), chief executive Michael Edwards, and sporting director Richard Hughes. "The club knows what period of time we are in," he pointedly remarked earlier this month.

The Telegraph has echoed a similar narrative to The Athletic and several other outlets reinforcing Slot's job security. It is worth noting, however, that while this information has likely originated from club insiders, it is in Liverpool's interest to project an image of stability. There would be little benefit in publicly suggesting the current manager is on borrowed time while he still needs to motivate his squad to secure Champions League football.

Yet, the apparent reluctance to consider Alonso as a possible successor remains intriguing.

What Concerns Could Liverpool Have With Xabi Alonso?

Alonso's spell at Real Madrid serves as a prime example of the unique pressures that come with managing one of the world's biggest clubs. The former Madrid midfielder was relieved of his duties on January 12, despite winning 20 of his 28 matches that season. Even after a chaotic Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona, Madrid remained within four points of their rivals at the top of La Liga and were positioned in the top eight of the Champions League table.

Since Alonso's departure, the gap to Barcelona has more than doubled, while Madrid have been eliminated from both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. Álvaro Arbeloa has already suffered more defeats than his predecessor in nine fewer matches.

Yet, by the time Alonso left, his situation had become increasingly difficult to sustain. He fell into the trap of acting more as a coach than a manager, consistently struggling to assert authority over the strong personalities in Real Madrid's dressing room. That dynamic should be less of an issue at Liverpool, where the title "head coach" has replaced "manager." Nevertheless, Alonso's tactical preferences may be counting against him.

It has been reported that Alonso's preference for a back three has given Liverpool pause, per The Times. The situation with Ruben Amorim—who was passed over by the Reds before joining Manchester United, partly due to his commitment to a 3-4-2-1 formation—was cited as a cautionary example. Liverpool can barely field two fit center-backs on most matchdays, meaning the requirement for three would place additional strain on an already stretched squad.

What Next for Liverpool?

Whether Slot's position is secure heading into the 2026–27 season remains open to debate, but there is little question that he will be in the dugout for Liverpool's final six matches of this campaign.

First on the agenda for the under-pressure Dutchman is the inaugural Merseyside derby at Everton's new Hill Dickinson stadium. Notably, it was David Moyes who showed how to unsettle Slot's side at Goodison Park's final derby last February. Everton ground out a 2–2 draw using a direct, long-ball approach that denied Liverpool the opportunity to press, creating a blueprint that several teams have since followed.

Liverpool then welcome a Crystal Palace side unlikely to shy away from an aerial threat, before a demanding run-in to close the season. The Reds face Manchester United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa in the battle for Champions League qualification, and conveniently meet all three in May. Slot rounds out the campaign—if not his Liverpool tenure—with a home fixture against Brentford.

Liverpool's Remaining Premier League Fixtures