Klopp, Slot and Liverpool’s Next Big Decision

Slot clings to control after Inter lift

Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 win over Inter Milan has bought Arne Slot breathing space, but not clarity. The result at Anfield eased an anxious crowd and briefly lowered the temperature around the head coach, yet nobody inside the club is pretending that one Champions League night has reset the season.

Liverpool’s campaign has been defined by inconsistency, uneven performances and a sense that the project under Slot has yet to take proper shape. The ongoing uncertainty around Mohamed Salah’s future has only deepened the unease, both in the dressing room and beyond. Important points have been dropped, patterns of play have flickered rather than burned, and the question of what comes next will not go away.

For now, there is no imminent move. Those close to the situation suggest that any major decision on Slot is more likely to come in the new year, or if an unexpected market opportunity emerges. That caveat is crucial – because the landscape around Klopp, Xabi Alonso and other elite managers continues to shift.

Klopp talk refuses to go away

In the background, the name that never truly leaves the Liverpool conversation has resurfaced: Jürgen Klopp. The former manager, now working within the Red Bull football group, remains adored on the Kop and in the boardroom corridors alike. Many supporters would welcome him back without hesitation, viewing him as the architect of a modern golden era.

However, the latest briefings from those close to Klopp point in a different direction. According to well-connected voices, there have been no talks, no approaches and no exploratory conversations with Liverpool over a romantic return. The German is described as fully engaged with his current role, enjoying the freedom and variety of a position away from the week-to-week grind of the touchline.

From Liverpool’s side, the idea of going back is treated with caution. There is huge respect and affection for Klopp, but also an understanding that repeating the past can be emotionally tempting and strategically risky. A second act on the Anfield touchline is not being actively pursued, and the sense from those around the club is that this is unlikely to change in the short term.

Alonso emerges once more in succession debate

If Klopp is the emotional pull, Xabi Alonso remains the rational long-term benchmark. Liverpool were heavily interested in appointing Alonso before Slot took the job, only to see the former midfielder choose Real Madrid when the Spanish giants came calling. That decision was accepted, if not exactly enjoyed, at Anfield.

Now, the situation could evolve again. Should results at Madrid deteriorate, Alonso’s position may quickly come under scrutiny, potentially forcing another reshuffle at the elite end of the market. Any instability there would inevitably be monitored at Liverpool, where Alonso’s deep connection with the club and supporters has never been forgotten.

Within the recruitment and football operations structure, there is an awareness that managers of Alonso’s calibre do not become available often. If he were to re-enter the market, Liverpool would want to be near the front of the queue, even if that complicates their current commitment to Slot.

Liverpool board weighing sentiment against strategy

Behind the scenes, Liverpool’s decision-makers are trying to navigate a tight line between sentiment, stability and sporting ambition. Slot still has backing, particularly after Inter, and there remains a belief that with a calmer dressing room, a resolution to Salah’s situation and a more settled tactical framework, performances could stabilise.

At the same time, the club cannot ignore the wider context. Supporters are restless, rivals are evolving, and the Premier League environment is unforgiving. Klopp is cherished but, for now, appears content where he is. Alonso represents a compelling future option, yet his availability depends on events in Madrid.

For Slot, that means every game carries weight. Each performance becomes another piece of evidence in front of an ownership group determined not to be bounced into decisions, but equally unwilling to stand still if a clear upgrade presents itself.

What is clear is that Liverpool’s next managerial call – whether it is to persist with Slot, to reconnect with Klopp or to move decisively for someone like Alonso – will help define the next era at Anfield. The club has lived through a transformational decade; the choice now is how brave they are in shaping the next one.