Liverpool’s Sliding Doors: The 12 Bosses They Weighed Before Backing Arne Slot

Replacing Jurgen Klopp was always going to be like following the Beatles at the Cavern. Arne Slot, to his credit, made it look a doddle early on — winning the Premier League in his debut season with four games to spare — but the glow has dimmed of late. His 50th Premier League match at the helm brought a bruising 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, and while the wider body of work remains impressive — 75 games in all competitions at 2.04 points per match — the tightrope at Anfield never felt thinner.

It wasn’t meant to be so nervy. After a lavish summer outlay of north of £400 million on the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, Slot’s seat looked bolted to the floor. But football moves fast, and the conversation has looped back to the moment the club hierarchy — guided by Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes — sifted through a star-studded shortlist. As The Athletic detailed back in May 2024, there were a full dozen candidates in the frame. Here’s the pundit’s tour of Liverpool’s great ‘what if?’

Xabi Alonso

The sentimental favourite for many on Merseyside, Alonso stuck with Bayer Leverkusen when Klopp departed, then made the mega move a year later to succeed Ancelotti at Real Madrid. It’s been smooth so far — just two defeats in his first 17 games — and the old midfield metronome looks every inch the modern elite coach. Had Liverpool landed him, the romance would’ve been off the charts; instead, they got Slot’s pragmatism and a title straight away.

Ruben Amorim

Fresh off delivering Sporting CP a second title in four seasons, Amorim was on the list — but questions over his devotion to a back three gave Liverpool paws for thought. Manchester United took the plunge in November 2024 and, while there’s been a Europa League final run (lost 1-0 to Spurs), the league form was a car crash: United’s worst Premier League finish — 15th in 2024/25 — and only found consecutive league wins by mid-October 2025. Tactical idealist, yes; flexible problem-solver, not always.

Roberto De Zerbi

The Brighton alchemist had admirers at Anfield, but similar concerns about tactical rigidity kept him at arm’s length. He chose Marseille in 2024, finished second to PSG in 2024/25, and has started brightly again. The ceiling? High, if he tweaks the stubborn streak.

Julian Nagelsmann

Liverpool liked plenty about Nagelsmann, but the 38-year-old’s preference for a back three was a recurring sticking point. He remained with Germany and is steering Die Mannschaft toward the 2026 World Cup. A superb club CV (Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig, Bayern), but the timing and tactical fit didn’t quite align for Anfield.

Eddie Howe

Given Richard Hughes’ history with Howe at Bournemouth, it’s no surprise the Newcastle boss was discussed. The Magpies will be grateful he stayed: a points-per-match of 1.76 across 191 games and a cathartic Carabao Cup triumph in 2024/25 — a 2-0 win over Liverpool, ending a 70-year wait for silverware. Howe’s stock on Tyneside has never been higher.

Andoni Iraola

Bumpy beginnings at Bournemouth gave way to controlled, clever football. A 12th-place finish in year one, then a top-half leap; in 2025/26, the Cherries have dared to dream about Europe. The Hughes connection with Iraola’s agent didn’t hurt his candidacy, but the stars never quite aligned.

Sebastian Hoeness

Data darlings at Anfield liked what they saw: Hoeness’ underlying numbers tracked closely with Klopp’s. Stuttgart finished ninth in 2024/25, yet the 43-year-old’s reputation skyrocketed, with links to major gigs — even a potential Amorim successor at Old Trafford. This season, his Stuttgart are sniffing around the top four. An operator.

Michel

Briefly tipped as a future Guardiola successor after guiding Girona to third, Michel stayed put as Liverpool looked elsewhere. The sequel season was grim — scraping clear of relegation — but context matters: a shoestring operation can’t always back up a miracle. Give him a Liverpool-sized budget and who knows?

Simone Inzaghi

Two Champions League finals in three years with Inter tells you all you need to know: this is an elite in-game coach. Liverpool hesitated over his English, fearing friction in communication. Inzaghi moved to Al-Hilal in the summer of 2025 and remains one of Europe’s most respected tacticians.

Paulo Fonseca

Never a front-runner, but always in the conversation. Fonseca took the Milan job in 2024, lasted 24 matches (1.75 points per game), then jumped to Lyon — where a fiery exchange with referee Benoit Millot earned him a nine-month ban. Lyon sit seventh and, as ever with Fonseca, the football is brave, occasionally chaotic.

Ernesto Valverde

Out of work yet labelled a ‘leading contender’ at the time. Multiple titles at Barcelona, three championships with Olympiacos, and fresh credibility after ending Athletic Bilbao’s 40-year wait for silverware. The fit was there on paper — bold, experienced, calm — but Liverpool never pulled the trigger.

Luciano Spalletti

Napoli’s Scudetto whisperer was in charge of Italy when Liverpool were shopping. He later left the Azzurri after 24 matches (12W-6D-6L) and took the Juventus job, where his side trail the leaders by seven points. Age 65 at the time of Anfield’s interest? No barrier — the Reds simply chose a different flavour of modernity.

The Verdict on Slot — and the Road Ahead

Slot’s CV in England still reads handsomely: a title at the first attempt, an aggressive, front-foot identity, and a points haul that stacks up with the best. But Anfield’s standards are unforgiving, and the Forest defeat was a klaxon. The recruitment was lavish; now the coaching has to be ruthless. If he re-centres Liverpool’s press and sharpens the rotation behind the front line, the wobble will pass. If not, the club already know there are high-end alternatives out there.

For those tracking the managerial markets — and weighing where the value lies — the latest prices are never far away on best betting sites. Just remember: the Klopp succession proved that even the sure things come with turbulence, and the smartest play is often the one grounded in fit, not fashion.

All statistics per Transfermarkt; correct as of 24/11/2025.