Is Slot The Man To Rebuild Liverpool Post Salah? | OneFootball

Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back on CBS Sports Golazo in response to Liverpool’s limp defeat at the hands of PSG on Wednesday evening, and his words cut deeper than a routine post-match critique. Describing Liverpool’s performance as “like watching a team from a lower division,” he pointed to a “gulf in class” that should alarm anyone connected with the club. For a team that prides itself on competing at the very top, such a comparison is not just harsh, it is deeply concerning.

Carragher’s point becomes even more striking when placed in context. This is not a Liverpool side standing still. Under Arne Slot, the club has backed its new era with significant investment, reportedly around £450 million. Yet despite that, the gap against elite opposition such as Paris Saint-Germain appears to have widened rather than narrowed.  That broader pattern is also reflected in this season’s football predictions and analysis, where Liverpool’s displays against elite opponents have raised serious questions about whether the rebuild is genuinely progressing. Carragher even suggested the result flattered Liverpool, saying it “should have been five or six.”

That observation raises a difficult but necessary question. Is Slot the right man to oversee this rebuild in the medium term?

It is still early in his tenure, and there are mitigating factors. Transitional periods rarely run smoothly, especially after the departure of a transformational figure. However, Liverpool are not a club that can afford prolonged drift. Expectations, both internally and externally, demand rapid competitiveness at the highest level. When performances suggest regression rather than progress, patience quickly wears thin.

Carragher’s comparison to last season is particularly damning. Liverpool, even in defeat, looked like they belonged among Europe’s elite. Now, despite heavy spending, they appear further away. That disconnect between investment and output inevitably reflects on the manager. Recruitment decisions, tactical identity, and player development all fall under Slot’s remit. If those elements are not coming together, scrutiny intensifies.

This is why the upcoming summer feels like a decisive juncture. Liverpool’s hierarchy must assess whether the current trajectory points toward eventual success or prolonged underperformance. A change at that point would not necessarily be an admission of failure, but rather a strategic reset made in the club’s best interests.

If such a decision were taken, one name stands out as the most compelling successor: Xabi Alonso.

Alonso’s credentials are difficult to ignore. His transformative work at Bayer Leverkusen showcased a clear tactical identity, elite-level coaching, and the ability to elevate players beyond expectations. His team combined structure with flair, pressing intelligence with technical control, qualities Liverpool fans would immediately recognize and appreciate.

Beyond Germany, Alonso’s brief spell with Real Madrid in a coaching capacity would only have sharpened his understanding of managing elite dressing rooms and handling global expectations. That experience, even if short, adds another layer to his profile. He is not just a promising coach, but one already exposed to the demands of the very top.

There is also the emotional and cultural alignment. Alonso understands Liverpool, its standards, its supporters, and its identity. That connection cannot be underestimated, particularly in a period of uncertainty.

None of this guarantees success. Managerial transitions always carry risk, but what Carragher’s comments underline is a growing sense that Liverpool cannot afford complacency. If the “gulf in class” he describes persists, the argument for decisive action will only strengthen.

Slot still has time to turn the narrative around, not least in next week’s second leg. But Premier League results, performances, and team cohesion between now and the summer will define his prospects. If Liverpool reach that crossroads without clear progress, turning to Alonso may not just be an attractive option, it may be the logical one.