Liverpool’s crisis deepened on Wednesday night as they suffered an embarrassing 4-1 defeat by PSV at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side were dire across the 90 minutes and the loss was their ninth in 12 games and the third consecutive occasion they have been beaten by a three-goal margin.
Many felt that after winning the league last season and following a summer spend of £446million on the likes of Milos Kerkez, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, the Reds would go on to create a dynasty.
But, that has not proven to be the case and amid their dire run of form, Slot is now facing pressure from sections of the fanbase despite the stunning impact he had in his first season.
Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher gave his backing to the under-fire Dutchman on Wednesday, but admitted the noise around Slot’s position was ‘inevitable’ given their struggles.
So, in light of the situation, Daily Mail Sport has taken a look at the six current bookies’ favourites to be the next Liverpool boss – and rated how likely it is that they could replace Slot right now if the unthinkable was to happen.
Jurgen Klopp – 2/1
An emotional return to Anfield for Jurgen Klopp would certainly be a turn up for the books, but the German – who managed Liverpool for 491 games over nine years from 2015 to 2024 – is the bookies’ favourite to come in after Slot at 2/1.
Klopp’s record needs no introduction given he won eight trophies and emerged victorious in 299 of his matches, but he has been out of management ever since leaving Anfield, taking a role at Red Bull as their new Head of Global Football at the start of this year.
It feels an unlikely prospect given Klopp has repeatedly said he doesn’t miss coaching and was emotionally exhausted at the end of his tenure, but speaking last month on the Diary of a CEO podcast, he did leave the door open to a return.
‘I said I will never coach a different team in England so that means, if [I did return], then it’s Liverpool,’ he said. ‘So, yeah, theoretically it is possible.’
In that theoretical world, Klopp would give an immediate lift to a fanbase that has been worn down by this season, while it would also bring fresh energy to a struggling squad.
However, Liverpool did slightly fade in the final period of Klopp’s rein and with many of the squad remaining the same despite the summer spending – coupled with the decline in form of several seasoned stars – there would be question marks about whether Klopp would be able to get them back to their best.
Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing prospect.
LIKELIHOOD RATING: 3/10
Andoni Iraola – 5/1
Andoni Iraola continues to gain plaudits for the incredible work he is doing at Bournemouth, and it is no surprise the Spanish coach is linked with top clubs.
Many thought Iraola may have departed last summer with the Cherries boss touted for roles at both Tottenham and Real Madrid, but he has taken his side from strength to strength this season.
Although Bournemouth have had a slight dip in form in recent weeks, Iraola has developed a team that is brilliant to watch and he maximises the talent at his disposal.
Another feather in the cap for Iraola’s case is his previous work with Reds left back Milos Kerkez, whose performances have been heavily criticised since his £40m summer move from the south coast.
Although Iraola feels destined for the top and will rightfully be in the conversation for those jobs, given Bournemouth’s start to the season and the fact his contract expires next summer, it feels unlikely he would leave before the end of the campaign.
Yet, if the opportunity arose, you never quite know whether it would be too tempting to refuse.
LIKELIHOOD RATING: 5/10
Oliver Glasner – 6/1
Oliver Glasner is another manager of an upwardly mobile Premier League club who is rightfully being linked with the top sides.
The Austrian’s transformation of Crystal Palace has been remarkable and he has taken the club to heights they could have never imagined.
Like Iraola, Glasner is also out of contract at the end of the season, something that only adds to his appeal.
At Palace, he has created a team that is incisive and dynamic to watch in attack, and so well-drilled in defence, while his success with a three-at-the-back system has made a mockery of Ruben Amorim’s struggles at Man United.
However, Daily Mail Sport understands that one issue potentially holding Glasner back from the biggest clubs is that although he is viewed as the ‘best coach out of possession’, those top teams want to dominate the ball, something Palace, for all their strengths, do not do.
This could be a potential sticking point on a move to Liverpool, although Klopp was known to play a similarly intense style.
But, like Iraola, it feels that given what Glasner has got going on at Palace, he is not about to walk out on them mid-season.
LIKELIHOOD RATING: 4/10
Xabi Alonso – 6/1
Xabi Alonso was strongly linked with the Liverpool job before Arne Slot was appointed in 2024.
Many thought the former Reds midfielder was a shoe-in for the role, but in March of that year he publicly ruled himself out, stating his job at Bayer Leverkusen was ‘not over’.
Alonso’s success in Germany was hugely impressive, and it resulted in Real Madrid making their move for him last summer.
He’s had a decent start to life in Spain despite a reported rift with key man Vinicius Jnr, but as he is just months into a three-year deal at the Bernabeu, a move to Liverpool feels extremely unlikely currently.
Nevertheless, there is probably no club in world football where managers face greater pressure than at Real, so if things did turn sour, Alonso would of course be a strong contender for a return to Anfield.
LIKELIHOOD RATING: 2/10
Steven Gerrard – 10/1
The appointment of Steven Gerrard is one that would set tongues wagging and it would also be fascinating to watch unfold.
Despite success at Rangers, Gerrard’s coaching record since at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq is mixed to say the least, plus his brutal verdict on Liverpool’s struggles after last night’s game – where he hit out at Milos Kerkez for his ‘criminal’ display – could make the dressing room an awkward place to be.
It remains a huge if, but big clubs rarely sack managers mid-season and if they do, they seldom appoint a permanent replacement straight away.
Think of Ralf Rangnick’s interim stint at Man United after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021-22, or Guus Hiddink’s two similar spells at Chelsea.
And, in some respects, the appointment of Gerrard on an short-term basis could have a likeness to when Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish stepped in to steady the ship in January 2011 in the aftermath of Roy Hodgson’s sacking.
Gerrard’s status among Liverpool’s fanbase would, like Klopp, boost morale around the club, although his tactical ability and coaching acumen is unproven.
LIKELIHOOD RATING: 4/10
Julian Nagelsmann – 10/1
Before Julian Nagelsmann took on the Germany job in 2023, he was regularly linked to the top jobs across Europe despite his sacking by Bayern Munich after building up a reputation as one of the best young coaches around.
He started well with his country, leaving Euro 2024 with plenty of credit even though Germany were knocked out by eventual winners Spain in the quarter-finals.
But in recent months, Nagelsmann – who is under contract until Euro 2028 – has faced accusations that Germany are stalling under his tutelage.
Although they breezed through qualifying, their group of Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg was weak, and Germany often underwhelmed.
Yet, it still feels very unlikely that Nagelsmann will leave his role, especially with a World Cup to come next summer.
LIKELIHOOD RATING: 2/10
