The situation at Liverpool remains tense. Despite being on course for Champions League qualification, there’s growing frustration around Arne Slot and whether the Dutchman should be in charge when the 2026/27 season kicks off.
Betting markets on who the next Liverpool manager might be have become increasingly active, with former Red Xabi Alonso the favourite to replace Slot should a change be made. Fans can keep up to date with the latest odds on trusted betting sites, as speculation regarding the Reds’ current manager persists.
But the latest reports suggest that Liverpool are still planning for next season with Slot being in charge. While the board may still believe that he deserves a chance to turn the situation around, every bit of context points to that being the wrong decision.
The squad has gone backwards under Slot
It was only 12 months ago that supporters inside Anfield were celebrating the club’s 20th league title. There was excitement about what was to come, with quality additions in the transfer market – Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and others – building the team’s strength in depth.
But rather than improving under Slot, Liverpool have gone backwards. Established players have not looked the same in the Dutchman’s second year. Alexis Mac Allister has declined, creating fewer big chances in the same number of games last season (six in 2024/25, four in 2025/26). Virgil van Dijk has made more errors leading to goals. And Mohamed Salah’s goalscoring form has deserted him in this new system, with his seven strikes far behind the 29 in 2024/25 which won him the Premier League Golden Boot.
When decline is this widespread across the squad, the buck almost always stops with the manager. There is little to suggest that if Slot is retained, he’s the man who will get these players back to their best and challenging for the title once again.
Anfield turned on Slot during the Chelsea draw
While the decline of key players is concerning, the vocal fury from the crowd is what has become even harder to ignore. Opposition to Slot reached an alarming level in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, when Rio Ngumoha was withdrawn for Alexander Isak.
The winger had been one of the more creative players in that match, assisting Ryan Gravenberch for the opening goal while also completing four of his five dribbles. Although Slot has since explained that he brought Ngumoha off due to cramp, the reaction to the substitution was an example of the Liverpool faithful’s wider issue with Slot – they don’t trust his decisions.
Once that tide turns against a manager, it’s incredibly difficult to wrestle back that control. A mutual departure might therefore be a better solution for both parties, rather than allowing for potential toxicity to develop heading into 2026/27.
Alonso is available — and Liverpool may not get a second chance
What should really put the nail in the coffin for Slot, though, is the availability of top managers this summer, most notably Xabi Alonso, whose history as a player on Merseyside would endear him to supporters and galvanise the players.
Alonso established his pedigree as a manager at Bayer Leverkusen, winning a Bundesliga title in an undefeated season. Even his short-lived stint at Real Madrid has not diminished his reputation, given the dysfunction that has engulfed the Bernabéu since his departure — including reports of training-ground bust-ups and a dressing room split over his sacking.
The Spaniard would likely be willing to return to Anfield should Liverpool come calling, but with interest from other clubs, there’s no guarantee that he will still be available if Slot is sacked next season. That same point applies to other managers currently on the market too. If Liverpool do have any doubts around their current manager, now is the time to act.
