Arne Slot’s time at Anfield looks like it’s coming to an end. BILD journalist Axel Hesse led German coverage of Florian Wirtz’s move to Liverpool last summer. He now reports that Liverpool are “on the verge” of sacking Slot. Xabi Alonso stands ready to take over. He is waiting for a concrete offer from the club. The story has real legs, especially given Hesse’s inside track with the Liverpool hierarchy. (Via Evening Standard)
How did the season unravel so badly for Liverpool?
Liverpool won the Premier League title at a canter last term, but the good vibes from that title win have completely vanished under Slot. His side has struggled to maintain any meaningful consistency throughout 2025/26. The defeat to Brighton proved a watershed moment. That result saw Liverpool slump to their tenth loss of the season. They have reached that unwanted mark for the first time in more than a decade.
Furthermore, they have now conceded more league defeats this season than in the previous two campaigns combined. It’s the kind of stat that makes any owner nervous. Slot failed to mould his star-studded squad into a cohesive unit. He failed despite a staggering €500 million investment last summer. This included the marquee arrival of Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
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Why does Alonso fit Liverpool’s profile tactically?
Alonso’s appeal stretches far beyond sentiment or familiarity with the club. At Bayer Leverkusen, he built one of European football’s most sophisticated systems. It was a high-press, positional structure. It demanded intelligent ball circulation and aggressive pressing triggers. It also required fluid positional rotations between lines. His back four pushed remarkably high.
They compressed space in tandem with a midfield that screened transitions and recycled possession at pace. Crucially, he produced all of this while keeping things tight at the back. Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga title run demonstrated this. Liverpool’s squad currently lacks that tactical clarity. Alonso has set strict conditions regarding his influence over recruitment and squad planning. This firm stance stems from his difficult experience at Real Madrid. Reports suggest the club dismissed his specific preferences for the squad before his arrival.
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What does the latest reporting actually say?
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has moved to clarify Liverpool’s actual position. He states that all available information points to the club sticking with Slot. The board has given no thought to changing the coach. Active planning continues with the Dutchman at the helm. That said, missing out on Champions League football would make Slot’s position increasingly difficult to justify heading into the summer. This is particularly true, given that Alonso is reportedly ready for a return. He is demanding a say in squad planning. The situation remains genuinely fluid. The next seven Premier League fixtures will likely determine everything.
