Liverpool’s Five-Man Manager Shortlist Revealed as Pressure Mounts on Arne Slot
A list of managers admired by Liverpool has emerged as pressure mounts on Arne Slot after yet another damaging defeat.
On Saturday, Liverpool lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest and now have just one win in their last seven Premier League fixtures.
The Premier League champions have dropped down to 11th in the table and 11 points behind leaders Arsenal following the dismal run of form.
Slot took responsibility for the latest loss, which adds further pressure on the Dutchman after more than £400 million was spent on new recruits in the summer.
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Slot still has a contract until 2027 and would be entitled to a significant compensation payment if Liverpool did decided to sack them.
For the bookmakers, former manager Jurgen Klopp has been made the favourite to replace Slot should the club's top brass elect to make that decision.
There is no word on Liverpool having a current shortlist of bosses to replace Slot, who is still understood to be backed by the club.
But before they appointed him as Klopp's replacement in 2024, they did also consider a number of other managers.
Earlier this month, Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail conducted a Q&A and was asked about who would be the most likely contenders to replace Slot.
Though he stressed that Liverpool still had faith in Slot, he answered the question for a "fun experiment".
Liverpool's 2024 manager shortlist
The journalist revealed that in addition to courting him and Ruben Amorim when Klopp announced he was leaving, a further five coaches had the admiration of the Reds.
Liverpool liked the look of Sebastian Hoeness from Stuttgart after he led them to a second placed finish in the Bundesliga in 2023/24, with Girona boss Michel catching their eye after firing the Catalan side to Champions League qualification for the first time.
They also looked at Roberto De Zerbi, who was at the helm Brighton but moved on to Marseille in that summer, as well as Ernesto Valverde - the former Barcelona manager who is in his second stint at Athletic Club.
The experienced Luciano Spalletti was also assessed. The Italian recently returned to management by taking the reins at Juventus following Igor Tudor's sacking last month.
However, that was a fair bit ago and even with the club in a crisis, Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the situation.
According to the Italian, Liverpool “are not in talks” with any other manager but the board do want to "see a different kind of results and different kind of performances" as "they expect much more" by Slot and his team.
Liverpool hope to bounce back on Wednesday when they return to Champions League action against PSV at Anfield.
Josh Lawless