Two Liverpool players told they'll be immediately dumped if Xabi Alonso replaces Arne Slot

Arne Slot's position as Liverpool manager continues to be the subject of speculation following their Champions League exit - and two Reds players have been warned they could also find themselves exited if Xabi Alonso were to take over.

Having won the Premier League in Slot's first season in charge, Liverpool are now guaranteed to finish this campaign without silverware after a 4-0 aggregate defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Reds, who exited the League Cup in the fourth round to Crystal Palace and the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage to Manchester City, are currently fifth in the Premier League, four points ahead of Chelsea in the race for next season's Champions League but with the Blues still to play, as well as trips to Everton, Manchester United and Aston Villa.

It has led to suggestions that Slot could be sacked come the end of the season, but David Ornstein claims FSG intend to stick with the Dutchman no matter what.

But pressure will only continue to build if performances and results do not improve - and Hugo Ekitike's injury is hardly likely to help, with the France striker ruled out for the rest of the season and a fair chunk of the next one with a confirmed ruptured Achilles.

And should Slot ultimately lose his job, there would be strong support among the fanbase for one or even both of Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard to take the reigns at Anfield.

Jermaine Pennant, who played with both during his three years at the club, thinks Slot will last the course but says he would 'prioritise' Alonso if a change is made - and reckons his former teammate would immediately make changes in midfield if appointed.

"Personally, I would see Slot being successful, but if there were to make a change, then I would prioritise getting Xabi Alonso in," Pennant told SPORTbible on behalf of RightBet.

"He knows the club, he played for the club, the fans will take to him straight away.

"There are a lot of players at the club Xabi knows and also knows how to get the best out of them. He did amazingly well at Bayer Leverkusen, which would a good team and won the League with them, so yes, he would be the preferred choice, if, the board decide to go that way.

"If Alonso did come in, I think he would move on Cody Gakpo, and if a good enough fee came in, Mac Allister could leave too. I think Alonso would want energy in that midfield, legs, and Cody isn’t a big fans favourite and hasn’t been playing well. Out of the players they have got, those two may be the first on the list.

"There may be an argument for Curtis Jones, but, on the other side, he is a local lad and you would want to keep him in the squad."

Slot has to own blame for Liverpool season

As well as Slot, chief executive Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes are all soon heading into the final year of their contracts at Anfield.

Pennant believes the manager is the most likely of the trio to stay longest - but he has no time for Slot's complaints that Liverpool have had "so many decisions" go against them this season and says the manager must be held ultimately accountable for the failures of the season.

"Out of all of them, I think it will be probably Slot that stays. With the circumstances that have gone on at Liverpool, with players leaving and Jota’s passing and injuries, I think the Board are willing to give him another chance, with a fully fit squad, to see what he can do next season, whereas I think Edwards will probably go.

"It’s been a very bad season with the money that they have spent. This is probably the worst scenario for Liverpool, to defend their title in such a manor, to be out of all competitions, it’s been bad.

"[And] every team in some way along the lines have had decisions gone against them. Whether it’s VAR, a goal, a sending off, penalty against you, injuries, every team has had there fair share, so it’s just an excuse of how bad the season has been.

"You can’t just pin point it to one individual. I think as a group, as a collective, they are all to blame. The manager is maybe to blame with the style, the DNA, tactics, certain personnel in positions, that is his job to get the best out of his players.

"Then you have to look at some of the players, who themselves, from the standards from last season to this season is night and day, those who haven’t stepped up and performed well.

"So it’s a collective one, but it does start with manager. He needs to rally the team, pick the right players for each game, the right style, which leads onto the players playing better."