Liverpool Chucking A U-Turn on Arne Slot | OneFootball

Surprise, surprise. Looks like the Liverpool boardroom doesn’t actually have the back of embattled gaffer Arne Slot after all.

Our sources report that Fenway Sporting Group have authorized what we understand will be “full review” of the Dutch manager’s performance. This is an abrupt departure from the board’s public displays of support, and you can’t help but think it won’t end well.

A Dismal Season

Liverpool’s season has been disastrous by any measure. They’ve lost 12 games this season, the same number as recently promoted Sunderland and Leeds United. They’ve conceded 52 goals, which places them 13th. Nottingham Forest, currently 16th in the table, have conceded six fewer. 

This poor performance right after winning the title is simply unacceptable. Equally damning is the $600M the team spent on talent over the summer. Talent that Slot himself requested. The Reds haven’t even secured Champions League football yet. They’re clinging to fifth place in the Premier League but need Bournemouth to lose Tuesday to clinch. 

Slot apologists will point to the club’s brutal schedule and injury woes as excuses, and there’s a kernel of truth there. But it’s equally obvious that his management has been a contributing factor. Fans complain of tepid energy and conservative play. Even Mohamed Salah just last week posted a scathing critique of Liverpool’s performance, which was a thinly veiled jab at Slot.

So Who is Liverpool Targeting?

Now that Chelsea pipped Anfield by signing Xabi Alonso, the list of high-caliber managers got a little shorter. But that’s not stopping FSG from going all out to find someone new. They are allegedly shooting the moon by trying to lure Jürgen Klopp back into the dugout for a second stint. Will it work? Highly unlikely, so there’s a short list of other candidates they’re interested in.

Andoni Iraola

He’s leaving Bournemouth, and is quite possibly the most in-demand free agent out there. It would be a gamble, as he’s never led a club of Liverpool’s size, but his success with the Cherries is undeniable. Think what he could accomplish with all the talent!

Sebastian Hoeneß

Despite a recent contract extension through 2028 and numerous statements that he is “fully committed to VfB Stuttgart”, the DFB Pokal cup-winner is in the sights of the board.

Julian Nagelsmann

Understandably, the 38 year-old is exclusively focused on finalizing the German national team’s 26-man roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. He does have a contract keeping him there through the end of the 2028 Euros, but if Die Mannschaft stumble this summer he might be open to an early departure.