Liverpool’s New Top Target To Replace Arne Slot Was Humiliated by Jurgen Klopp

The new favourite to replace under-pressure Arne Slot as Liverpool manager was once humiliated by his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool suffered a shocking 4-1 defeat at Anfield on Wednesday night against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

It was the club's ninth loss in 12 matches, marking their worst run since the 1953-54 season.

It is a dramatic collapse for Liverpool, who lifted the Premier League title just months ago and spent £450 million in the transfer market over the summer.

They now come into a winnable run of fixtures, starting with a trip to West Ham, followed by matches against newly promoted Sunderland and Leeds.

But if Liverpool's slump continues, Slot could be sacked just months after guiding them to the league title in his first season.

Klopp has emerged as the favourite to make a return to Anfield, having stepped down as manager in the summer of 2024.

Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 (Image: Getty)

According to The Sun, Liverpool bosses would reportedly only want Klopp until the end of the season.

However, it remains uncertain whether the German would leave his current role as Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull.

While Klopp has insisted he has no interest in returning to management, he told Steven Bartlett’s podcast last month that a return to Anfield is 'theoretically possible'.

The Sun reports that Liverpool's owners see Klopp as a short-term solution because Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique remains their long-term target.

Enrique is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the world, having guided both Barcelona and PSG to trebles.

Luis Enrique won PSG's first Champions League trophy last year (Image: Getty)

His PSG side even eliminated Slot's Liverpool from last year's Champions League in the round of 16.

However, Enrique has not always fared well against Liverpool.

Back in 2016, while in charge of Barcelona, Liverpool humiliated the Catalan giants 4-0 during a pre-season International Champions Cup match at Wembley.

That summer was Klopp's first at Anfield and the match was an early demonstration of the aggressive, pressing style the German would introduce at the club.

All four goals came from Liverpool pressing Barcelona, with Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Marko Grujic on the scoresheet, while Javier Mascherano put one into his own net.

Meanwhile, Slot faces mounting pressure to turn results around.

Writing in The Telegraph, Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher warned that the Dutchman has just a week to save his job.

Carragher said Liverpool need at least seven points from their upcoming games against West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds, or Slot's position will be "untenable."