A few months ago, if you had told any Liverpool fan that Arne Slot would be under pressure, they would have laughed in your face. After winning the Premier League during the Dutchman’s inaugural season, the Reds invested heavily to strengthen their roster with great players such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike.
If the unimaginable happens and Slot is fired, there will be a long line of managers eager to take over. But who are the favourites to succeed the current Liverpool manager? The Sun prepared a list of managers with the greatest Betfair odds to indicate who is leading the charge.
8Jose Mourinho
Odds – 25/1
Jose Mourinho has had some memorable battles with the Reds over the years, from the iconic Champions League games to rushing down the touchline after Chelsea gave a hammer blow to Liverpool’s title hopes in 2014. Nonetheless, this appointment seems quite implausible.
For starters, there have been multiple flashpoints between both sides, implying that their partnership isn’t always on the best of terms. But, more crucially, the Portuguese head coach has only recently joined Benfica, thus his chances of leaving his current position are minimal.
7Xabi Alonso
Odds – 16/1
You could make a same argument for Xabi Alonso that you did for Mourinho. The Spaniard was linked with the Liverpool job before Slot’s arrival in 2024, but stayed at Bayer Leverkusen for a another year. He has just recently succeeded Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, and he hopes to win the La Liga title in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
While his current odds are poor, Alonso may be able to return to Liverpool later in his managing career. After all, he stayed at the club for five years, becoming a fan favorite for his mesmerizing performances in the engine room. The romanticism of his occupying a spot in the dugout is simply too appealing to ignore.
6Pep Lijnders
Odds – 10/1
If you’re going to make a mid-season move, who better to ask than someone who knows the team inside and out? Pep Lijnders worked as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant coach during two spells at Liverpool, helping the club win the Premier League and the Champions League.
Unfortunately for the Dutchman, a few circumstances make his odds merely 10/1. He recently joined Manchester City and is assisting Pep Guardiola. But, more importantly, his stints as manager at NEC Nijmegen and Red Bull Salzburg were not particularly successful, with the Austrian club sacking him only months into a three-year contract. That will undoubtedly serve as a warning to Liverpool’s management team.
5Jurgen Klopp
Odds – 9/1
Furthermore, if you want to hire someone who is familiar with the club, Jurgen Klopp would be a better fit. The German manager had a fantastic nine-season run at Anfield, transforming the Reds into one of the top teams in both England and Europe as they won their sixth Champions League and first Premier League in 20 years.
What makes this prospective appointment even more appealing is that the 58-year-old recently refused to rule out taking over his former team in an interview. He told The Diary of a CEO podcast: “I said I will never coach another team in England, so if I do return, it will be Liverpool.” So, yes, theoretically that is feasible.” That has pushed his odds to 9/1, however it would be surprising to see him return to Anfield so soon after departing.
4Julian Nagelsmann
Odds – 7/1
Julian Nagelsmann, like Xabi Alonso, was regarded by the club’s administration as a replacement for the aforementioned Klopp. However, the German chose to continue at his position with the German national team.
The former RB Leipzig manager has frequently gotten excellent praise for his tactical acumen, prompting interest from a number of clubs over the years. So, if Liverpool needs someone who can bring Wirtz, Isak, Ekitike, and Mohamed Salah together, Nagelsmann could be the man. Unfortunately for the Reds, he signed a contract extension with Die Mannschaft in January 2025, securing his existing position until the end of Euro 2028.
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