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Managers Liverpool could target if Arne Slot departs this summer

February 17, 2026
Opinion

Arne Slot enjoyed a remarkable debut season at the Anfield helm as he delivered Premier League glory, but the team’s contrasting struggles in 2025/26 have put his future in doubt. 

The statement throughout the season has been that Liverpool are standing by their title-winning manager, although that stance will surely change if Champions League football is not secured for what would be Slot’s third season in charge.

Slot will have to fight for UCL football

The fight for Champions League qualification is set to be incredibly tight in the closing stages of the Premier League season. Liverpool are offered at EVENS to finish in the top four in the Premier League football odds – favoured ahead of Chelsea, but positioned behind Manchester United.

Slot’s team will have to fight to return to Europe’s top table, and the reality is that the Dutch coach will be hoping England earns a fifth UCL spot, as that could be what determines whether his job is on the line in the summer. 

Here we will look at several managers who could be in the running if Slot departs, and why their tactics would fit Liverpool.

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso is perhaps the most obvious potential replacement, due to the idea of a romantic return rather than tactics. However, when looking at the Spaniard’s managerial CV, he could bring a proven tactical system that would fit Slot’s current squad. 

The former Liverpool star’s 3-4-2-1 system, which delivered invincibility at Bayer Leverkusen, would suit the team’s high-flying wing backs – including Jeremie Frimpong, who was part of Alonso’s team that made Bundesliga history in 2024. 

Liverpool’s issue of lacking wingers who progress the play out wide would also be fixed by the Spanish coach’s three-back system. For Alonso’s Leverkusen, two attackers operated within the half spaces behind a centre forward, with the wing-backs providing the sole natural width. 

Alonso will undoubtedly feature high on a managerial contingency plan for reasons beyond tactics – he suits the club’s DNA, as he is a charismatic coach who would instantly earn the fans’ backing, and has a track record of delivering unprecedented success. 

Roberto De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi has proven that his methods are compatible with the Premier League, as evidenced by his time at Brighton and Hove Albion. The Italian’s preference for fast vertical progression and aggressive counter-pressing could see heavy metal football return to Anfield for the first time since the Klopp days. 

Slot’s time at Liverpool has revolved around a tactical theme of control and slow-tempo football. However, if Hughes and Michael Edwards wish to revert the club to the gegenpressing theme imprinted by Klopp, then De Zerbi could be ideal. 

In terms of tactical shape, De Zerbi deploys a 4-2-3-1, which means he would not require many signings to get Liverpool playing his way, and contractually, he is a free agent, having mutually parted ways with Marseille in February. 

Andoni Iraola

Andoni Iraola is another Premier League-proven option Liverpool could turn to if Slot departs. His AFC Bournemouth contract will expire in the summer, which, like the other options in this list, makes him fairly easy to obtain if he is interested in the responsibility of being Liverpool’s head coach.

The Spaniard also commonly opts for a 4-2-3-1 system, and presses relentlessly with overlapping fullbacks covered by midfielders, which mirrors the methods that Klopp utilised to deliver the biggest trophies to Anfield. 

Ultimately, Alonso will be the most popular choice amongst fans, but the Reds’ recruitment team could take the risk of offering a manager a first-time step up to an elite club – De Zerbi and Iraola are both intriguing options that could fit Liverpool’s modern tactical DNA. 

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