The only manager who CAN replace Arne Slot

If Arne Slot has to leave Liverpool there is only one manager who can replace him.

Let's make it clear, it's far too soon for the Dutchman to leave just yet. Slot delivered a 20th Premier League title only the season prior and dazzled us with his football.

However, after a run of bad results and having won just 40% of his games since defeat to Paris Saint Germain in March, the head-coach's position should be under a little bit of scrutiny.

Slot needs to be given time to get things right. Ultimately though, if results do not start improving, Liverpool have to protect themselves and have to make a decision in the best interest of the club.

Finishing in a Champions League spot and doing as well as the Reds can possibly do in Europe is a must for the rest of the season. If at any point that is looking unlikely then Liverpool have to look at alternative options and must even consider making a radical change by finding a replacement for Slot.

But then must come the question, if not Slot, who? There aren't many world-class managers in world football lining up to join Liverpool.

It was a struggle finding Slot in the first place when Jurgen Klopp decided to leave the club.

Right now, the manager market is even more difficult. There are some promising young managers, like Xabi Alonso for example. Andoni Iraola could be an option, but is he ready to manage a big club like Liverpool?

There is only one manager who is probably ready to take on a job like this, and who has the necessary playing style to suit Liverpool's current roster.

The manager is Cesc Fabregas, who has been a revelation since taking over at Como. In his first season he managed to keep them in the Serie A after promotion. Now in his second season, he's building a side challenging for a place in Europe.

And he's doing it in the right way, with quick high-intensity football based on possession-control while playing a lot of young players and getting the best out of them, and while also maintaining a strong defensive unit.

Fabregas' Como ranks second for expected conceded goals in the league (10.98), only behind Inter Milan (10.47). They are number one for passes per defensive action against them (7.5), which is a metric used to measure how effective a team's counterpress is.

Essentially, the less passes you allow the opposition to have per possession, in theory the better your press is at disrupting their rhythm and flow. Right now Como are number one in this area in Serie A. They also rank number one for challenge intensity (6.5) which measures duels, tackles and interceptions per minute of the opponents' possession.

Fabregas' style is full of intensity and being effective in your structure and organisation. Como are a very difficult team to play against.

They will smother you when you have the ball but they are also effective at keeping it. Fabregas' team rank fifth in the league for passes attempted per 90 minutes (453) and first for possession (60.2%).

Obviously, it's a small sample size, but based on what he has shown last season and this season, Fabregas is one of the brightest managers in Europe right now.

If there is anyone capable of replacing Slot, it's Fabregas. He's been there as a player, too. Playing at the highest level and winning major accolades like the World Cup.

That pedigree and his status in the game means he'll understand what is required of him at Anfield. It should also mean he will have no problem winning over the dressing room.

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