Tony Cascarino drops bombshell Liverpool manager prediction after Xabi Alonso setback | OneFootball

The atmosphere at Anfield has turned toxic as the 2025/26 campaign nears its conclusion.

With Arne Slot struggling on and off the pitch and supporters increasingly voicing their frustration, former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino has tipped Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola as the frontrunner to take over the Liverpool hot seat.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Weekend Sports Breakfast, Cascarino noted that the “regular booing” at Anfield is a sign that Slot’s time may be up.

While Slot is expected to see out the season, the hierarchy is reportedly already weighing up its options.

Why Liverpool could go after Andoni Iraola

The driving force behind the Iraola links is his pre-existing relationship with Liverpool’s Sporting Director, Richard Hughes.

It was Hughes who famously brought Iraola to Bournemouth, and Cascarino believes that history will play a decisive role in Liverpool’s next appointment.

“He brought him to Bournemouth and now he’s at Liverpool,” Cascarino explained.

“He did that negotiation. You have connections in football and people you deal with. It’s not that unlikely that a club like Liverpool could look at him. He’s done an incredible job.”

Since a rocky start on the South Coast, Iraola has transformed Bournemouth into a side playing “Champions League form,” showing a tactical flexibility and player development track record that Slot has noticeably lacked this season.

Liverpool set to miss out on Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso has emerged as the leading contender to take over the job at Stamford Bridge, much for the disappointment of Liverpool fans who wanted a dream return for Alonso at Anfield.

The Blues have reportedly already made contact with the former Real Madrid boss and want are in a rush to appoint a new manager before the World Cup starts.

While Iraola also remains linked with Chelsea, the departing Bournemouth manager could be available for Liverpool to pursue at the end of the season.