According to Fabrizio Romano, Arne Slot’s role as Liverpool manager could be in jeopardy if the team misses out on qualification for the Champions League next season.
The Dutch coach has found it challenging to match the impressive performance from his first year in charge, with Liverpool currently positioned outside the Premier League’s top five.
That said, the defending champions remain close to securing a top European spot, trailing fifth-placed Chelsea by just two points. Slot still enjoys a degree of goodwill from his strong 2024/25 campaign.
However, that support has its limits—especially if the club ends up without Champions League football.
Romano explained on the Here We Go podcast: “For Arne Slot, the situation is quite clear: being in the Champions League next season is crucial for Liverpool.” He added that qualification would allow Slot to approach the end of the campaign with greater calm. Without it, the club might face a significant evaluation in the summer.
The focus right now is on the field, where winning a trophy would be huge for the team. Come summer, though, Liverpool’s owners, board, and management are expected to convene and assess the overall direction—including whether Slot remains in charge, with Champions League participation being a major factor.
Liverpool have shown recent improvement domestically, picking up four victories in their last five matches.
Given his status as a former Liverpool favorite and a highly regarded 44-year-old coach, it’s no surprise that Xabi Alonso’s name keeps surfacing in connection with the club. While Romano didn’t explicitly state that Liverpool are monitoring Alonso closely for the summer, the Spaniard—who is currently without a job—is clearly evaluating potential opportunities.
Romano noted that when Roberto De Zerbi left Marseille, the French club inquired about Alonso’s availability for an immediate role. However, Alonso turned it down, preferring to wait for the right fit rather than rush in. He is eager to return to management soon and is monitoring upcoming vacancies over the coming months.
It’s unclear whether Slot or even Pep Guardiola will stay at their current clubs—two of England’s most successful in recent years. A chain reaction could occur, for example, if Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany moves to Manchester City, potentially opening the door at Bayern (another of Alonso’s former teams) for the Spaniard.
Ultimately, significant pressure rests on Slot, who must at least guide Liverpool back into the Champions League to secure his position heading into the summer.
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