Liverpool Line Up Alonso As Slot Exit Looms

Liverpool FC are preparing for a managerial shake-up, with reports in Germany claiming Arne Slot could leave the club by the summer at the latest, following a disappointing campaign.

According to Bild, the Merseyside club have already identified Xabi Alonso as their preferred successor, though the Spaniard will only accept the role if he is granted significant influence over squad planning.

Slot’s position has come under mounting pressure after a run of poor results, including a 2-1 defeat away to Brighton & Hove Albion. That loss marked Liverpool’s tenth league defeat of the season, a figure widely seen as decisive in shaping the Dutchman’s future.

Despite the slump, Liverpool remain fifth in the Premier League, a position that could still be enough to secure Champions League football.

However, their recent form tells a different story. The Reds have taken just four points from their last four matches, with rivals also struggling to build momentum.

Aston Villa sit fourth, five points clear, despite collecting only three points in the same period, while Chelsea, just behind Liverpool, have also managed only three points from four games.

Behind the scenes, planning for change is already underway. Alonso, currently one of Europe’s most sought-after coaches, is not willing to step in mid-season. Instead, he is targeting a summer arrival, with clear conditions attached.

Liverpool are understood to have maintained steady contact with the Spaniard since 2024, when sporting director Michael Edwards first tried to bring him to Anfield. Alonso declined at the time, focusing on his historic spell with Bayer Leverkusen, where he guided the club to an unbeaten Bundesliga title.

Now available again after a brief and difficult stint with Real Madrid CF, Alonso is said to be open to the Liverpool job, but only on his terms. Chief among them is control over recruitment and squad structure, an area where he previously faced limitations.

Liverpool’s impending rebuild could be accelerated by the expected departure of Mohamed Salah. Despite having a contract until 2027, the forward is reportedly set to leave at the end of the season, closing a remarkable chapter that has yielded 255 goals in 435 appearances since 2017.

Slot has defended his record, pointing to last summer’s heavy investment, reportedly around €500 million, including the signing of Florian Wirtz. He argued the spending was balanced by over €300 million in player sales, including Luis Diaz. Still, critics say he has struggled to mould a cohesive side from the influx of talent.

Alonso’s track record suggests a different approach. Known for his tactical clarity and ability to develop players, he played a key role in elevating Wirtz into one of Europe’s most creative midfielders during their time in Germany. The pair could be reunited at Anfield, with Wirtz now emerging as a central figure in Liverpool’s attack after a slow start.

The former midfielder, who won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool and lifted both the World Cup and European Championship with Spain, is seen internally as the ideal figure to lead the next phase.