A few months ago, had you told any Liverpool fan that Arne Slot would be under pressure, they likely would have laughed in your face. Fresh off winning the Premier League during the Dutchman’s debut campaign, the Reds spent heavily to reinforce their squad with elite players, including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike.
But a week is a long time in football, and the situation at Anfield has deteriorated rapidly. The Merseysiders have now lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions, including seven of their last eight in the Premier League, with a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Nottingham Forest the latest in a string of poor results. The team are now 11th in the table and eight points behind league leaders Arsenal, having played a game more, and while reports indicate that Slot is not under internal pressure at the club, that could change if form continues to spiral.
Should the unthinkable happen and Slot is shown the door, there will be a queue of managers waiting to take the reins. But who are the favourites to replace the current Liverpool boss? Sky Bet have compiled the managers with the best oddsto show exactly who is leading the charge.
Steven Gerrard
Odds – 25/1
Mr Liverpool himself, Gerrard is a free agent and has recently admitted that he is looking for his next job, and a return to Anfield would undoubtedly be a fairytale for all involved.
Gerrard won the league at Rangers before ill-fated spells with Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, but his connection to the Reds would surely make the role impossible for him to turn down if it were offered to him, and it could be one the fans are clamouring for as they look for a reason to believe once again.
A temporary spell in charge until the end of the season could be ideal for everyone involved, and while the former captain is considered a 25/1 outsider, it probably shouldn’t be entirely ruled out.
10 Cesc Fabregas
Odds – 20/1
One of the finest midfielders of his generation, Fabregas has now become one of the best young coaches in Europe and is flying in Serie A with minnows Como, whom he is a co-owner of.
That could prove to make it difficult to get him out of Italy mid-season, but it seems inevitable that the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea star will return to England at some point to continue his managerial journey, and his playing style and experience of England could make him a top candidate for Anfield chiefs.
9 Zinedine Zidane
Odds – 16/1
Zinedine Zidane
As one of the greatest players of all time, one thing that Zinedine Zidane would do is command the respect of all players in his squad. But, arguably even more importantly, he would bring a winning mentality. The former France international won two league titles during his first spell at Real Madrid, as well as three consecutive Champions League trophies – quite the resume.
To make matters even more interesting, Zidane remains out of work, having not managed since leaving Los Blancos in May 2021. And he’s spoken about his admiration for Liverpool’s stadium, stating that Anfield was the best stadium that he played in. It feels like it could be the perfect opportunity for the 53-year-old to return to coaching.
8 Mauricio Pochettino
Odds – 14/1
The current manager of the United States national team, Pochettino has great experience in the Premier League having managed all of Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in his career.
The Argentine has also led Paris Saint-Germain to Ligue 1 glory, but is now in the international game and has guided his side to the 2026 World Cup next summer. While he has a great reputation, there’s no doubting that he would be a real outside shot for the job at this stage, with all things considered, and it should be considered highly unlikely that either party push to make it happen.
7 Xavi
Odds – 14/1
The legendary midfielder has won league titles in Qatar and Spain, with his beloved Barcelona, and is currently a free agent after departing the Camp Nou in May 2024 following a bust-up with the board.
Known for his possession-heavy style of play and attack-minded process, he would likely be a popular appointment at Anfield, and it has been reported that he would be open to a move to England for his next job. However, whether his lack of experience at the highest level as a manager would count against him remains to be seen, and with the club’s biggest issue being their balance across the team, a shift in identity at this stage could be a problem the board would rather do without.
6 Marco Silva
Odds – 14/1
Silva has garnered a great reputation after doing a top job at Fulham, but the former Watford and Everton boss is largely untested at the very top level.
The Portuguese coach is out of contract at Craven Cottage in the summer, although GMS understands that he has been offered a new deal. It could be relatively cheap to get him into Anfield now, but whether he would leave in mid-season remains to be seen, and there would be major question marks from the fan base if he was selected to take over the struggling reigning champions, considering his CV.
5 Julian Nagelsmann
Odds – 10/1
Much like Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann was considered by the club’s hierarchywhen they were searching for a successor to the aforementioned Klopp. However, the German elected to remain at his post with the German national side.
The former RB Leipzig boss has often received rave reviews for his tactical intelligence, attracting interest from multiple clubs through the years. So, should Liverpool need someone who can incorporate Wirtz, Isak, Ekitike and Mohamed Salah into one team, then Nagelsmann could very well be the man they need. Unfortunately for the Reds, he signed a contract extension with Die Mannschaft in January 2025, which will keep him in his current post until the end of Euro 2028.
4 Unai Emery
Odds – 9/1
Having taken over from Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, Emery has developed into one of Europe’s top coaches and would surely be a name considered by the board at Anfield if Slot were to leave.
The Spaniard has had big success in Europe with Sevilla and Villarreal in the past, while he has plenty of experience in the Premier League too. But his pragmatic style is one that tends to lend itself more to the underdog, and Liverpool fans would surely question if he is the right man to take them forward in the long run after his ill-fated stint at Arsenal.
Villa would also push hard to keep him at the club, and it may not be worth the hassle to get him out in mid-season, meaning the club push for an alternative option instead.
3 Oliver Glasner
Odds – 6/1
If Slot is fired, the most logical appointment for Liverpool to make is arguably Oliver Glasner. Since arriving at Crystal Palace in 2024, the Austrian manager has brought a new lease of life to an Eagles side which sometimes lacked inspiration under Roy Hodgson. He’s the mastermind behind two of Palace’s most incredible achievements in recent memory, winning the FA Cup in 2025 before beating Liverpool back at Wembley to win the Community Shield.
However, what makes him one of the favourites for the job is his availability. Glasner’s future at Selhurst Park remains uncertain, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, meaning that his head could be turned should Liverpool come knocking. If Slot does go, then watch this space.
2 Andoni Iraola
Odds – 5/1
Should Liverpool wish to appoint a current Premier League manager, then Andoni Iraola is certainly likely to be on their shortlist. The Spanish head coach has turned Bournemouth into a fearsome side for English teams, with them playing an exciting brand of football and picking up results against clubs much bigger in stature.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Iraola has faced Liverpool in six matches as Bournemouth manager, but has never beaten the Reds. He’s lost to them more than any club he’s faced during his managerial career.
Presently, the Cherries are flying in the league despite losing key players during the summer transfer window, including starting centre-backs Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi. Iraola currently has odds of 5/1 to move to Liverpool, but even if that doesn’t happen, it feels as though it’s a matter of time until another behemoth pinches him.
1 Jurgen Klopp
Odds – 2/1
If you were going to appoint someone who knows the club well, it would make sense to move for Jurgen Klopp. The German manager enjoyed a phenomenal nine-season spell at Anfield, turning the Reds into one of the best teams in both England, and in Europe, as they lifted a sixth Champions League and a first Premier League in 20 years.
What makes this potential appointment even more enticing is that the 58-year-old recently refused to rule out taking charge of his former club again in an interview. He told The Diary of a CEO podcast: “I said I will never coach a different team in England so that means, if [I did return], then it’s Liverpool. So, yeah, theoretically it is possible.”
That has put his odds at 2/1, making him the bookies favourite, although it would be remarkable to see him back at Anfield so soon after leaving.