Surprise Front-Runner Appears to Succeed Arne Slot Following PSV Loss
An unexpected contender has reportedly become the leading favourite to succeed Arne Slot as Liverpool manager after their heavy defeat to PSV.
Liverpool were handed another damaging loss on Wednesday evening, falling 4–1 to PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League meeting at Anfield. The result marked their third straight defeat, during which they have shipped seven goals and scored only once, with two of those losses coming at home.
Unsurprisingly, the latest setback has intensified scrutiny on Slot, with many supporters calling for his dismissal despite him guiding the Reds to the Premier League title only seven months ago. As the pressure grows, a new and somewhat surprising name has emerged as the bookmakers’ top candidate to replace him.
Since Liverpool’s 3–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend, several high-profile managers have been linked with the job. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner are believed to be in contention, but former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has now been positioned as the most likely option.
Although Alonso has made an encouraging start since taking charge of Real Madrid in the summer, his own future has come under question. A dip in recent form and reports of disagreements with key figures in the dressing room — including Vinicius Jr — have put him under some pressure. As a result, bookmakers now list him at 3/1 to take over at Anfield, suggesting a stunning move from Madrid back to Liverpool could be possible.
While Slot endured the 4–1 defeat to PSV, Alonso oversaw Madrid’s 4–3 victory over Olympiacos, with all four goals scored by Kylian Mbappe.
Alonso, however, is not the sole favourite. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is also priced at 3/1 to return to the club he left at the end of the 2023/24 season. Klopp, who cited exhaustion upon stepping down, is now serving as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer, a position he took up in January.
When recently asked whether he might one day return to the Liverpool dugout, Klopp didn’t dismiss the idea — even if it appears unlikely at the moment. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, he said: “I’ve always said I would never manage another English club, so if I ever did come back, it would be Liverpool. So, yes, in theory it’s possible.”
