It has to happen now: Last chance to appoint ideal Arne Slot successor

It’s been a difficult second season for Arne Slot at Anfield.

Appointed Liverpool’s head coach in May 2024 following the departure of Jurgen Klopp the Dutchman got off to the best possible start.

Slot orchestrated the 2024/25 Premier League title win - and following a summer of spending it was expected that the Reds could go on and dominate English football.

But it’s not worked out like that.

Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes spent £450m on overhauling the squad - but the head coach has been unable to get any kind of rhythm or consistency out of his charges.

Liverpool have won only SIX top-flight games since September and are facing a fight to re-qualify for the Champions League via the top five league positions.

Arne Slot's Liverpool fate to be decided

Accordingly it had been suggested that Hughes and his FSG higher-ups could opt to make a change in the dugout - with reports suggesting that the end of the season will be used as an opportunity to take stock of Slot’s position.

Under contract until 2027 it wouldn’t take a fortune to pay off the 47-year-old - with focus then looming on who could come into replace him.

Xabi Alonso is widely seen as the favourite for the role - with the former Liverpool midfielder previously on the club’s managerial wishlist.

Back then he opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen before deciding on a move to Real Madrid instead last summer – a short, unhappy spell that was brought to a halt in January.

Richard Hughes must now decide whether or not to appoint Alonso and he best do it quickly as Manchester City are now believed to be rivalling the Anfield side for his signature.

Man City want Xabi Alonso to replace Pep

Pep Guardiola’s side did a number on Liverpool on Sunday and put themselves right back in the title mix. But will it be enough to convince the Spaniard to see out his contract?

Right now reports suggest that Pep could be preparing to walk away from the Etihad at the end of the season. And Football Insider is now claiming that Alonso has rocketed to the top of Abu Dhabi’s list of replacements.

“Alonso is keen to get back into management shortly after his departure from Madrid, and the Man City job is expected to appeal to him,” the report reads.

“Despite also having been heavily linked with the potential position at Liverpool, where he served as a player, City could move quicker to tempt him into the Premier League.”

Richard Hughes left with big decision to make

This leaves Hughes and FSG in quite the conundrum.

There are plenty of reports from reliable journalists suggesting no change will be even considered until the end of the current campaign.

But if it becomes apparent that City want to appoint Alonso - perhaps Liverpool’s No1 pick to succeed Slot - then they may be left with no option other than to end Slot’s term early.

It might well be that Liverpool only get one shot to appoint Alonso before City swoop and offer him the keys to the kingdom.

Slot would be the fall guy - but results haven’t picked up this season and it would be only natural if the club were considering moving on.

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