Liverpool to retain Arne Slot despite poor season, club cools Alonso links
Liverpool's hierarchy have decided against sacking manager Arne Slot this summer, according to a report from The Athletic. The club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, are prepared to keep faith with the Dutchman despite a dismal Premier League title defence that has left the Reds struggling to secure Champions League qualification.
Slot's position had come under intense scrutiny after Liverpool lost ten league games for the first time in a decade, a stark decline from last season's championship-winning campaign. The team currently sits sixth, facing the possibility of Europa League or even Europa Conference League football next term. However, the report indicates that the club's leadership believes Slot can rectify the situation and is not planning a change in the dugout.
The ownership group prides itself on a long-term, stable approach to managerial appointments, having made only four in 16 years. Slot retains significant credit for overseeing last season's unexpected title triumph in his first year after replacing Jurgen Klopp. While the current stance is described as non-binding, the final weeks of the season, with Liverpool still competing in the FA Cup and Champions League, will be critical in solidifying his position. A finish without silverware or top-tier European football could yet force a reconsideration.
Amid the speculation over Slot's future, widespread assumptions that Xabi Alonso would be the automatic successor have been downplayed by the club. The Athletic's report suggests Liverpool insiders believe the narrative linking Alonso to the job is based on false premises, including the idea that he was the first choice ahead of Slot in 2024. The Spaniard, who has been without a club since leaving Real Madrid in January, was previously a candidate, but the club's internal view appears to have shifted.
This aligns with a separate story from The Times, which indicated that tactical preferences, such as Alonso's occasional use of a back-three system, might work against him in Liverpool's analysis. The emerging narrative seems designed to quieten the persistent speculation connecting the former Reds midfielder to a return to Anfield, reinforcing the message that Slot's project retains boardroom support for the foreseeable future. The immediate focus remains on securing a strong finish to a turbulent season.
