Is Arne Slot's Time At Liverpool Running Out?
There was genuine optimism after last season's title win, but frustration has steadily replaced it. What once felt like the start of a clear project now looks directionless, leaving serious questions about leadership, identity, and who should come next.
From Title Highs to Growing Doubts
Like many supporters posting here, I genuinely hope the club parts ways with Arne Slot as soon as possible. Yet last season I was truly delighted with his work, not only because we won the league, but also because I appreciated the way he communicated with the media and how he allowed certain players to thrive, with Diaz flourishing, the repositioning of Gravenberch, and Salah enjoying a stratospheric season.
However, he also stalled the development of some players, such as Quansah, and showed a very dogmatic approach to squad selection, with several players barely getting any minutes. While we were champions, it was hard to criticise him. Even so, we were rarely flamboyant and often won matches by a single-goal margin, and the end of the season, especially after the elimination against PSG, felt particularly laboured.
Recruitment Mismatch and Tactical Stubbornness
I assumed the recruitment department would provide him with the profiles he needed to fine-tune his style of play and turn the team into a real steamroller. Unfortunately, the players brought in clearly do not suit him, and he seems incapable of getting the best out of them. On top of that, Slot appears unable to reinvent himself or adapt, largely due to sheer stubbornness.
He briefly tried a midfield diamond, which improved control and compactness, but after a few hard-fought results he immediately reverted to his original system. That reluctance to persist with adjustments has become a familiar and frustrating theme.
Squad Management and Loss of Identity
Slot also struggles with squad management. He does not seem to trust young players or certain substitutes, and he has a tendency to play multiple players out of position following questionable in-game changes, with the match against Leeds being a prime example. These decisions often disrupt the team's balance and limit the squad's potential.
I agree that if we want to genuinely compete for the title, we need to control games and dictate the tempo, but that does not mean becoming predictable and lethargic. Even Klopp had to evolve his style as we became more dominant and increasingly faced low blocks, back when Trent Alexander-Arnold could occasionally speed up play and progress the ball more directly. On top of that, Slot is actively eroding the DNA left behind by Klopp: intensity, counter-pressing, and an almost unbreakable resilience. He is clearly not the coach who will take us to the level we expect.
So who is the right man to replace Slot?
Luis Enrique would clearly be the dream appointment. Ultra-dominant football based on possession, but not sterile possession, combined with the intensity we have been lacking since Klopp's departure. He is also a top-level tactician, clearly superior to both Slot and Klopp in that regard, and I am convinced he would get the best out of the exceptional profiles we currently have, while also trusting and developing the club's most promising youngsters. Unfortunately, he is not a realistic option at the moment.
Xabi Alonso leaves me with some doubts. He was tactically outmanoeuvred by Slot when we faced Leverkusen and Real Madrid. That said, he is a good coach, still young, and can only improve. I also believe managing Liverpool's dressing room would be easier for him than dealing with the egos at Real Madrid. This could make sense as a long-term project, but I do not feel he is the optimal choice right now.
Hansi Flick is appealing because of his ultra-offensive approach, the high defensive line, and the overall footballing identity it would bring. However, I do not think this model is sustainable in the Premier League. Like Bielsa, Iraola, or Postecoglou, Flick relies on large distances between players combined with constant mobility, a philosophy that can deliver spectacular football and short-term success, but is extremely physically demanding and easier to exploit over time at the highest level.
A Pragmatic or Patient Path Forward
As for me, and I am sure I will get roasted for this, I would currently lean towards Marco Silva, potentially as a bridge before a future move for Enrique. I genuinely believe he has been doing an excellent job for years with the resources at his disposal.
If we were to fully commit to a long-term project, I would even consider a young coach with a high ceiling, such as Giraldez or Fabregas, given how painful it has been to watch us play like this. If this is truly a transition season, we might as well use it to implement an attractive and coherent project.
That said, given the money spent and the big players in the squad, I understand the need for a coach who can deliver success quickly, and realistically there is currently no such profile available on the market.
Our suffering may therefore last a little while longer. Stay strong, Reds.
Discuss rumours and transfers on our Liverpool rumours web page
