Forget Jurgen Klopp – Liverpool Should Appoint the ‘World-Class’ Manager Who Outclassed Arne Slot
Arne Slot is enduring his toughest spell yet as Liverpool manager, having suffered seven defeats in his last ten competitive fixtures. If the Dutchman fails to reverse this poor run soon, serious questions will be raised about his future at Anfield.
The heavy loss to Manchester City on Sunday exposed familiar weaknesses that have plagued the team for months. Despite winning the Premier League title in May and dominating his debut campaign in England, Slot is now under scrutiny following a summer spending spree exceeding £400 million.
In today’s high-pressure football climate, managers rarely receive the patience once afforded to legends like Sir Alex Ferguson or even Jurgen Klopp during his early struggles at Liverpool.
Among the names linked with potentially replacing Slot is his former predecessor, Klopp himself, though he recently admitted to Steven Bartlett that a return is “technically possible” but highly unlikely. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s owners, have typically shown restraint in sacking managers, giving Brendan Rodgers time after a disappointing 2014–15 season before eventually turning to Klopp.
Interestingly, FSG—once known for their conservative spending—sanctioned a major rebuild this summer, signing Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez. Optimism was high among fans, but with major investment comes equally high expectations. Slot knows that Liverpool, as reigning champions, cannot accept such a dip in performance, prompting debate over whether he remains the right man for the job.
Candidates like Zinedine Zidane, Andoni Iraola, and Xabi Alonso have all been linked with the Anfield role. Yet one manager appears a perfect stylistic fit for Liverpool’s current squad — Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, who has already beaten Slot twice this season in both league and cup competitions.
Glasner’s Palace claimed a 2-1 win that triggered Liverpool’s slump, followed by a 3-0 triumph at Anfield in the EFL Cup. The Austrian has demonstrated tactical superiority despite managing a less talented team on paper. Ironically, Liverpool’s squad would be ideally suited to his system, especially had they completed the signing of Palace captain Marc Guehi, who stayed put after Glasner intervened on deadline day.
Under Glasner, a backline featuring Guehi alongside Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate would provide defensive solidity, while wing-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong could mirror the dynamic play of Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Muñoz. In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch’s work rate would allow Florian Wirtz to thrive in a freer, more central role similar to that of Yeremy Pino at Palace. Up front, Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike could partner Mohamed Salah in a structure akin to Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr’s roles.
While stepping up from Crystal Palace to Liverpool would be a major challenge — as Graham Potter’s move from Brighton to Chelsea proved — Glasner’s growing reputation as a “world-class” manager is drawing attention. Palace are determined to keep him beyond his current deal, but with bigger opportunities looming, his loyalty and ambition could soon be tested.
