Could Liverpool really sack Arne Slot and who would be in the driving seat to replace him

Before Sunday afternoon, Anfield had not felt this kind of sadness in years. The atmosphere was heavy, and the fans were restless. Liverpool had just lost their fourth consecutive match — something that hadn’t happened since the final days of Brendan Rodgers in 2014. It was more than just a bad run; it felt like a painful echo of the past, a haunting reminder of how quickly a bright project could begin to crumble when the cracks start showing. Back then, Rodgers’ Liverpool had nearly touched glory with Luis Suárez leading the charge, but once the Uruguayan left for Barcelona, the magic disappeared. Defeats came in waves — Newcastle, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Crystal Palace — and within a year, Rodgers was gone. Now, more than a decade later, history seems to be whispering the same dangerous warning, this time to Arne Slot.

Arne Slot, the Dutch manager who came in with so much promise, looked lost on the touchline as Liverpool fell 2–1 to Manchester United at Anfield. The same fans who once celebrated him as the man who brought the Premier League title back to Anfield in his debut season were now murmuring doubts. Could it really be happening again? Could Liverpool, a club known for loyalty and stability, even think about sacking Arne Slot just one year after he delivered glory?

For now, that question seems unthinkable. But football has a way of testing patience, especially when expectations are sky-high. Liverpool are not the underdogs anymore — they are champions. And champions are not allowed to collapse so easily.

The defeats have come in almost identical ways. Liverpool fall behind early, fight back with spirit, then lose it all again in the dying moments. It happened against Manchester United, it happened in Europe against Galatasaray, and it happened in the league matches before that. These are not humiliating losses where Liverpool are destroyed from start to finish. No, they are painful, tight games where something deeper feels wrong — a loss of control, of purpose, of rhythm. The kind of things that make fans worry that their team has forgotten who they are supposed to be.

Slot’s Liverpool no longer play with the same certainty that once terrified opponents. There is no clear plan, no defined identity. Even in victories earlier this season, the performances looked shaky. Every win felt like an escape rather than a triumph. The pressing was half-hearted, the defence unsure, and the attack often disconnected. It was as though the team no longer knew what system they were meant to be playing. And that, many fans believe, is on Arne Slot.

It’s too early for panic — but football doesn’t wait forever. If this losing streak turns into five, six, or even seven games without a win, the boardroom at Anfield will start asking serious questions. Slot may have earned the right to patience, but patience has limits when the club’s ambitions are so high.

Liverpool have always taken pride in not being a trigger-happy club. They stood by Jürgen Klopp even when things looked rough. They stood by Rodgers longer than most fans wanted. They believe in giving managers time to fix what’s broken. But the reality now is different. The expectations are heavier. The money spent over the summer has raised the stakes. Liverpool are not just another top-four side anymore — they are supposed to be fighting for every trophy available. And when you are champions, the fall feels steeper, and the world watches every mistake.

That is why, despite the calm public stance, there is quiet tension within the Liverpool fanbase. Slot is not under official threat yet, but the murmurs are there. Social media is full of frustration. Some fans believe the manager has overcomplicated things, that he’s trying to fix what wasn’t broken. Others argue that the squad looks exhausted and confused, still adjusting to Slot’s methods after years of Klopp’s intensity. But the harsh truth is that football doesn’t forgive confusion — it punishes it ruthlessly.

When a team looks like it has no plan, even loyal fans begin to lose faith.

There is also the psychological effect of losing four games in a row. It eats into the players’ confidence, creates tension in training, and brings whispers of doubt into the dressing room. Senior players start asking quiet questions. The younger ones look unsure. Even small mistakes start to feel heavier. Slot, known for his calm and composed manner, now faces the biggest test of his Liverpool career — not just tactically, but emotionally. Can he inspire belief again when belief itself seems to be fading?

Still, most insiders insist that Liverpool will not make any rash decisions. Slot will be given time to correct the course. The club’s leadership believes in stability. They see this as a bad spell, not a crisis. But football, as everyone knows, can change very fast. If the losses continue into November and December, then even the calmest voices will start to tremble. And that leads to the uncomfortable question that no one at Anfield wants to say out loud: who would replace Arne Slot if the unthinkable happened?

It might sound premature, but every top club quietly keeps a list — a shortlist of potential successors, just in case the storm becomes too strong to survive. For Liverpool, one name stands out: Andoni Iraola.

The Basque coach, currently in charge of Bournemouth, has caught the attention of many in England for his modern, aggressive, and clear football style. He is not a big name, but his ideas are sharp. His Bournemouth side press hard, move quickly, and play with a structure that reflects intelligence and courage. He knows exactly how he wants his teams to play, and that is something Liverpool are missing right now.

Interestingly, there’s already a connection between Iraola and Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes. Hughes was the man who appointed Iraola at Bournemouth in 2023. He knows his methods, his mindset, and his philosophy. If Liverpool ever reached the point of considering a change, Iraola would be an easy call for Hughes to make.

That’s why some people inside English football circles are already whispering that Iraola could be the “chosen one” if things continue to collapse at Anfield. It’s not a rumor meant to stir trouble — it’s simply preparation, the kind that every top club quietly does when results go bad.

Of course, Slot’s story is not over yet. Football has seen plenty of managers go through difficult patches and come back stronger. Klopp himself once endured a terrible run and turned it into fuel for success. But the difference now is that Liverpool are under brighter lights. Every poor game feels like a breaking point. Every substitution, every lineup choice is questioned.

Fans want to see the old Liverpool — the Liverpool that attacks with fire, that presses like a pack of wolves, that plays with heart and unity. Instead, they are watching a team that looks unsure and disconnected. They want to see the Anfield roar again, but lately, it has been replaced by anxious silence.

Slot’s next game, a Champions League trip to Frankfurt, suddenly feels like more than just a group-stage fixture. It feels like a defining moment for his Liverpool reign. A defeat there could light the fuse for full-blown chaos on social media, where frustrated fans are already calling for change. A win, on the other hand, could buy him precious time — and maybe, just maybe, help rebuild the lost confidence.

But even if Slot survives this storm, there will still be lessons to learn. He must rediscover what made Liverpool great. He must simplify his ideas and bring back the clear, energetic football that made Anfield feared across Europe. He has to connect with his players again, remind them of who they are, and rebuild the trust between the stands and the dugout.

The pressure on Slot is not just about results. It’s about identity. Liverpool fans don’t only want victories — they want to recognize their team. They want to feel the heartbeat of the club in every match. Right now, that heartbeat is faint. And only Slot can bring it back to life.

There’s also the emotional burden of following a legend like Jürgen Klopp. No matter how talented or intelligent Slot is, replacing a manager who became a symbol of love and loyalty was always going to be hard. Klopp didn’t just win trophies; he built relationships. The fans adored him, the players trusted him, and the city embraced him. Slot inherited not just a football team but a legacy, and that weight has been showing lately.

For some fans, the current situation feels like a painful reminder that Klopp’s era can never truly be replicated. Slot is his own man — but perhaps he is trying too hard to prove that. In doing so, he may have lost the simplicity and joy that once defined Liverpool’s football.

And yet, there is still hope. The Premier League season is long. The table is tight. A few wins could change everything. Slot’s team still sits near the top half, not far from the leaders. There is no reason to believe that this slump is permanent. The players still respect him, and the board still trusts him. But faith in football is fragile. It must be earned again and again, week after week.

Liverpool supporters are famous for their passion and patience. But they also have long memories. They’ve seen what happens when the signs of decline are ignored. The club once stuck by a manager too long and paid the price. They will not want to see that happen again.

Arne Slot stands at a crossroads. On one path lies redemption — a turnaround that reminds everyone why he was chosen in the first place. On the other lies the dangerous spiral that swallowed many managers before him. The next few weeks will decide which path he takes.

For now, Liverpool will stand by their man. The board will preach calm. The fans will hope for a reaction. But football is not a game of patience forever. Every great story can turn tragic if the hero doesn’t find his way back in time.

Arne Slot is not Brendan Rodgers. He is not Jürgen Klopp. He is Arne Slot — a coach who came to Anfield to build his own legacy. Whether that legacy will shine or shatter depends on what happens next.

And as the sun set over Anfield on that painful Sunday evening, one thing became clear — the love story between Slot and Liverpool is being tested. The question is not just whether he will survive, but whether he can make Liverpool believe again