Liverpool are experiencing an unexpected storm at the start of this season, marked by results drastically different from last year’s performances, when Arne Slot managed to conquer the Premier League in his debut campaign.
The Reds invested over €400 million in elite reinforcements such as Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez—an ambitious gamble that should have raised the team’s competitive level. But reality shows the opposite: six losses in 12 Premier League matches and a painful defeat to PSV at Anfield in the Champions League have placed Slot on the verge of being sacked.
Liverpool’s board believes the project has lost its emotional and tactical foundations, recognizing that Arne Slot has failed to manage the pressure or translate the heavy investments into results, leaving the club in mediocre positions both in the league and in Europe, where they have collected only nine points in five matches.
Inside the club, there is a strong sense that the disconnect between the squad and the coach is obvious, and that keeping him could deepen the crisis at a decisive point in the season.
Slot had been convinced that the arrival of high-profile players would give him the freedom to implement his ideas, but recent form shows that the squad is not responding, defensive structures are easily broken, and Liverpool have lost the aggression that once defined them.
Pressure from the stands is also growing, especially after seeing the team drop points against theoretically weaker opponents—another symptom that has accelerated the search for alternatives.
The Candidates: Klopp, Iraola, and Postecoglou
Liverpool are already evaluating three names with very different profiles to replace Arne Slot, starting with Jürgen Klopp, a legendary figure at the club whose potential return has ignited excitement among the fans.
Klopp won the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool, leaving an indelible legacy and maintaining a close relationship with the board—something that facilitates early conversations to determine whether he would be willing to take on another role.
His return is seen as the safest way to rebuild the team’s competitive identity, but this will depend on his readiness after two seasons away from Anfield.
The second name is Andoni Iraola, the Spanish coach who impressed at Bournemouth with his ability to modernize a modest team and make them competitive through well-developed tactical structures.
Liverpool view Iraola as a manager capable of driving the squad’s evolution, improving ball circulation, organizing pressing, and reviving players who are struggling to find their best form. His profile aligns well with the club’s long-term project.
The Postecoglou Option
The third alternative is Ange Postecoglou, a manager who combines an attacking style, boldness, and a strong identity, despite his recent spells at Tottenham and Nottingham Forest being inconsistent.
Liverpool believe that although he is a risky option, his attractive style could reinvigorate the team if he manages to find stability—something he hasn’t achieved recently, but has demonstrated in the earlier stages of his career.
