If Arne Slot Leaves, Who Steps In? LB9 Football & Sports.

Liverpool’s season flipped upside down in a matter of months. Not long ago, the Reds were celebrating a dominant 5-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur — a victory that secured their record-equalling 20th English top-flight title with four games still to play. Confidence was sky-high, the squad looked unstoppable, and the future at Anfield felt golden.

Fast-forward seven months, and the mood could not be more different. Liverpool’s title defense has collapsed spectacularly, leaving them 11th in the Premier League after 12 games and enduring a brutal stretch of eight defeats in their last 11 matches. It’s a fall so sharp that even loyal fans are struggling to recognize the team that lifted the trophy earlier this year.

And the most surprising part? This disastrous run comes after the club spent a staggering £450 million — the biggest single-window investment by any English club — in hopes of strengthening the squad. Instead of delivering instant results, many new signings are still struggling to adapt to the Premier League’s intensity.

The problems run deep. Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid has created a creative void. Mohamed Salah hasn’t rediscovered last season’s sharpness. Defensively, Liverpool look fragile and short of depth. And emotionally, the tragic loss of Diogo Jota has cast a heavy shadow across the dressing room, affecting morale and rhythm in ways that can’t be measured.

Even so, football’s unforgiving nature means the spotlight eventually lands on one person — the manager. Arne Slot, who delivered a Premier League title in his debut season and opened the new campaign with seven straight wins, now finds himself under intense scrutiny. Results have dipped, tactical choices have been questioned, and the momentum from his dream start has fully evaporated.

It may still be premature to talk about replacing him, but modern football moves fast. If the slump continues, Liverpool’s board will be forced to consider whether making a change could salvage something from a season slipping away. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, international coaches are unlikely to step away from their national teams, narrowing the pool of realistic successors.

Still, several intriguing names remain — candidates the club might already be quietly assessing as potential rescue options.

If Liverpool want to climb back toward stability, someone capable of immediate impact will be essential. And given the current chaos, the list of possible replacements is becoming more relevant by the day.

For more context on Liverpool’s turbulent season and their title outlook, check out our deep-dive:👉 https://www.lb9.news/post/lb9-football-2025-26-epl-title-odds-can-liverpool-defend-their-crown

Andoni Iraola

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola stands out as one of the most realistic contenders should Liverpool pull the trigger on a managerial change. And there are plenty of reasons why his name sits near the top of the list.

Iraola has transformed Bournemouth from relegation candidates into a confident mid-table force, delivering a 12th-place finish in his debut season followed by an impressive 9th-place campaign in 2024–25. He’s done this with one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League—an achievement that hasn’t gone unnoticed across England.

His player-development record is equally impressive. Under Iraola’s guidance, several talents skyrocketed in value:

• Dean Huijsen

• Illia Zabarnyi

• Milos Kerkez

All were sold for major profits after thriving in his system. Even Antoine Semenyo looks set to become the next big-money departure.

Tactically, Iraola’s high-energy, front-foot football mirrors the intensity that Liverpool fans grew to love under Jürgen Klopp and, more recently, Arne Slot. His pressing style and fearless attacking shape would slot naturally into the club’s existing football identity.

One more factor works in his favour: Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes personally played a key role in hiring Iraola during his time as Bournemouth’s technical director. That prior relationship—and Hughes’ deep understanding of Iraola’s methods—could heavily influence Liverpool’s succession planning.

Fabian Hürzeler

Another rising star earning attention is Fabian Hürzeler, the young tactician who has turned Brighton & Hove Albion into one of the Premier League’s most exciting sides. His rapid rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

Hürzeler guided Brighton to 11th place in his first season, then pushed them up to sixth—an extraordinary achievement for a club operating on a fraction of the budget of England’s giants. His philosophy revolves around slick possession play, aggressive vertical movement, and a calm authority uncommon for someone so young.

At 32 years old, he’s the youngest manager in the league—by a mile. For a club like Liverpool, who may be thinking long-term after recent turbulence, that youth and longevity could be a major selling point.

What makes Hürzeler particularly intriguing is his ability to get a tune out of both ends of his squad. He’s elevated Brighton’s young core while also extracting top form from veterans like 34-year-old Danny Welbeck, who is enjoying an unexpected late-career resurgence.

That blend of development and man-management fits neatly with Liverpool’s current situation. The club is balancing a fresh wave of young signings with seasoned leaders such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom have struggled to hit past heights this season.

And, of course, Liverpool fans will remember how well things went the last time a German took charge at Anfield. On that note…

Jürgen Klopp

For many Liverpool supporters, the dream scenario will always be the same: Jürgen Klopp walking back out onto the Anfield touchline. Few managers in modern football carry his blend of charisma, emotional connection, and trophy-winning pedigree.

Klopp’s legacy speaks for itself. During his unforgettable spell, the 58-year-old delivered seven major trophies, including the long-awaited Premier League title in 2019–20—the club’s first in 30 years. Yet his impact went far beyond silverware. He rebuilt belief, re-energised a global fanbase, and restored Liverpool’s reputation as one of Europe’s most feared forces. It’s no wonder he remains adored.

His departure at the end of the 2023–24 season was emotional but dignified. Klopp stepped aside on his own terms, preserving his legendary status rather than fading with the team’s form. There was no bitterness, no falling out—just gratitude from both sides. And crucially, he didn’t take another managerial role afterward, keeping his bond with the club intact.

Now serving as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, Klopp has surprisingly left the door slightly open. Speaking on Diary of a CEO (via Scott Trotter of the Mirror), he hinted:

“I said I would never coach a different team in England. So that means if I did return to England, then it’s Liverpool. Yeah, theoretically it’s possible.”

That single quote has kept hope alive among supporters. Should Arne Slot’s situation deteriorate further, expect the clamour for a Klopp homecoming to grow louder—perhaps too loud for the Liverpool hierarchy to ignore.

Oliver Glasner

If there’s one manager who seems to have decoded Liverpool’s system better than most, it’s Oliver Glasner. Under the Austrian’s steady hand, Crystal Palace have faced Liverpool six times and lost only once—a remarkable record that instantly puts him on any shortlist of potential replacements.

Among those victories? A statement win in the 2025–26 Community Shield, where Glasner’s tactical discipline shut down the Reds and delivered the trophy to Selhurst Park. It set the tone for what has become one of the most impressive managerial runs in Palace’s modern history.

Glasner has been nothing short of transformational. He delivered the club’s first-ever major honour, lifting the FA Cup in May, and followed that with a strong push up the Premier League table despite minimal spending and early-season instability behind the scenes. His previous campaign saw Palace finish 12th—even after winning just one of their first 13 matches—showing just how effective he is at stabilising chaos.

This isn’t the first time Glasner has worked miracles either. His UEFA Europa League triumph with Eintracht Frankfurt remains one of Europe’s most memorable underdog stories, proving he can deliver silverware in high-pressure environments.

With elite tactical structure, knockout pedigree, and a clear ability to elevate squads beyond their financial limitations, Glasner may now be ready for a grander stage. For Liverpool, he represents a coach with proven resilience, sharp game-planning, and a track record of punching above his weight—qualities the club might desperately need if change becomes inevitable.

Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe’s rise has been one of the Premier League’s most compelling managerial success stories. Taking over Newcastle United in 2021—shortly after the Public Investment Fund’s takeover—he transformed a relegation-threatened squad into a consistent top-tier force. Since then, Howe has delivered two top-five Premier League finishes and led the Magpies into back-to-back UEFA Champions League campaigns, elevating both his reputation and the club’s competitive ceiling.

While Howe’s earlier work at Bournemouth showed his tactical intelligence and player-development skills, his achievements in the north-east have taken his profile to another level. A defining moment came in the 2024–25 Carabao Cup final, where he outmanoeuvred Liverpool and Arne Slot, guiding Newcastle to a 2–1 win and securing the club’s first major trophy since 1955. It wasn’t meant as an audition for Anfield—but it certainly didn’t hurt his standing.

Howe’s coaching style blends structure with fluid attacking football, and his ability to nurture attacking talents could be hugely attractive to Liverpool’s hierarchy. Most notably, his deep understanding of Alexander Isak, now Liverpool’s record signing, adds a significant layer of intrigue. If the Reds want to get their marquee forward firing again, Howe is one of the few managers who already knows exactly how to unlock him.

All things considered, Eddie Howe represents a compelling mix of Premier League experience, modern tactical acumen, and proven success against Liverpool—traits that may push him higher on the club’s managerial shortlist.

Simone Inzaghi

Simone Inzaghi’s managerial résumé places him among the elite coaches of modern European football. Before making the unexpected switch to Saudi Arabia, he had already built a reputation as a master tactician—particularly in cup competitions and high-pressure moments.

The 49-year-old first made waves at Lazio, where he delivered the 2018–19 Coppa Italia and showcased his talent for developing players and maximising limited resources. His move to Inter Milan elevated him further. Inzaghi captured:

• Two Coppa Italia titles

• Three Supercoppa Italiana trophies

• The 2023–24 Serie A championship

Under his leadership, Inter also reached two UEFA Champions League finals (2022–23 and 2024–25). Although he fell short on both occasions, his tactical discipline, defensive structure, and ability to control big matches earned him admiration across Europe.

Today, Inzaghi is guiding Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, where he has the club pushing near the top of the table behind Al-Nassr. His current salary is unquestionably massive—likely far beyond what Liverpool traditionally pays—but prestige, legacy, and elite competition often carry more weight than paycheck figures alone.

And that’s where things get interesting.

Liverpool is a global institution. A return to Europe, the Premier League spotlight, and the chance to rebuild a giant in crisis could tempt Inzaghi back west. The tactical fit makes sense too: the Italian’s structured 3-5-2 system could bring stability to a Liverpool side currently defensively exposed and struggling for control.

If the Reds decide a change is needed, Simone Inzaghi would be one of the most accomplished and respected options available—an architect capable of restoring order after a chaotic campaign.

Conclusion

Liverpool may not be pushing the panic button just yet, but the situation at Anfield feels increasingly unstable. Arne Slot’s early promise has faded, results have spiralled, and a once-confident squad now looks disjointed and unsure of itself. In modern football, sentiment rarely outweighs ambition—and if this slump continues, the Liverpool board will be forced to consider alternatives.

Fortunately for the Reds, the managerial landscape is rich with options. From rising innovators like Fabian Hürzeler, to proven Premier League operators like Andoni Iraola and Eddie Howe, to elite European tacticians such as Oliver Glasner and Simone Inzaghi, Liverpool have no shortage of potential replacements. And of course, the romantic return of Jürgen Klopp will forever linger in the background as a dream scenario for many supporters.

Each candidate offers something different—fresh ideas, tactical certainty, emotional connection, or a winning pedigree. What matters now is whether Slot can turn the tide quickly. If not, the club must act decisively to protect its long-term ambitions and keep pace with an increasingly competitive Premier League landscape.

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