Next Liverpool manager: odds & favourites if Arne Slot is sacked
Just a few months ago, it was impossible to imagine Arne Slot under such pressure. In his debut campaign he led Liverpool to the Premier League title, and the club spent heavily in the summer to stay on top — Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike cost a combined €365 million.
Yet by mid-November, Liverpool sit only eighth in the table, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal. In just 11 rounds, they have already suffered five defeats — more than in the entire previous season (four).
Next Premier League manager to leave post (2025/26)
Traditionally, Liverpool’s hierarchy avoid rash decisions midway through a season. At Anfield they trust long-term planning and don’t overreact to short-term dips.
However, bookmakers have already revised their odds on Slot’s future several times. After the 2:3 defeat to Brentford in late October, the odds on the Dutchman being the next Premier League manager to lose his job fell to 11.00, having peaked at 3.50 earlier in the autumn. But is the situation really that bad? Let’s take a closer look — and assess who might succeed Slot if the club decide to make a change.
Liverpool have fallen well off the title pace
The heavy 0:3 defeat to Manchester City in the last round left a grim impression — it’s been a long time since the Merseyside club looked so helpless against the Manchester team. And it wasn’t just the result — it was the level of performance. It genuinely looked like teams from two different divisions. That loss was Liverpool’s fourth consecutive away defeat in the league — something that hasn’t happened since 2012.
Their chances of defending the title are diminishing with every matchweek. Even if Liverpool suddenly rediscover their rhythm and match last season’s points total, they’re unlikely to catch Arsenal — too much ground has already been lost. Only four clubs in Premier League history have picked up 18 points or fewer in the first 11 matches following a title-winning season, and none of them went on to win the league again: Chelsea had 11 points in 2015/16 (finished 10th), Leicester City collected just 12 the following year, and Blackburn Rovers managed 14 back in 1995. Even Liverpool’s arch-rivals Manchester United had the same tally (18) 24 years ago after their championship campaign.
Still, the Opta supercomputer isn’t writing Liverpool off just yet. Out of 10,000 simulations, They win the title in 7.39% of cases — behind only Manchester City (21.9%) and, of course, Arsenal (64.86%). To turn things around, Liverpool will need something extraordinary — and it’s far from certain that changing the manager will fix the deeper issues.
Where has Slot gone wrong?
Slot’s title-winning Liverpool were built on a superb defensive platform. With just 41 goals conceded, they ranked second-best in the league — only Arsenal were tighter at the back (34). Now, after 11 rounds of the 2025/26 campaign, only seven clubs have conceded more than Liverpool’s 17 goals, and five of those teams are currently battling relegation.
It’s not down to one man; the defending champions are suffering from a mix of factors. The summer departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold was a huge blow. He had been central to Liverpool’s build-up play under both Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot. The club tried to replace him with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, but neither has truly filled the void. Kerkez, for instance, has been forced to play almost as a third centre-back in the build-up phase, rather than as the explosive attacking full-back he was at previous clubs.
Similar problems apply to the new signings further forward. At Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz thrived as a left-sided playmaker and was twice named Germany’s Player of the Year. Slot has been struggling to find him a proper role, constantly shifting him between positions — left winger, deep midfielder, number ten, even right-sided midfielder. The result? Wirtz still hasn’t registered a single goal or assist in the Premier League. In total, Liverpool’s star trio of Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have produced just 3+2 in goals and assists combined — with Ekitike responsible for 3+1 of those.
Trying to fit all three into the lineup without losing balance or sidelining Mohamed Salah’s influence is close to impossible. Most of Liverpool’s matches follow the same pattern: if they’re not leading by the 60th minute, they throw everything forward. That’s why we often see Dominik Szoboszlai defending at right-back while Wirtz drops deep alongside the holding midfielder — leaving four players ahead. There have been some heroic late comebacks, but that’s not a sustainable strategy.
Slot hasn’t yet managed to organise this star-studded attack. Furthermore, it’s far from certain that anyone else could.
Who could replace him?
Bookmakers are already lining up potential successors to Slot. However, some names look outright fanciful, including José Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane, Steven Gerrard, and even Jürgen Klopp.
Leading the realistic shortlist is current Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. The Spaniard has earned his reputation by getting the team to play bold, attacking football despite limited resources. Bournemouth lost key players in the summer — Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid, while Ilya Zabarnyi moved to Paris Saint-Germain — yet the team have collected as many points as Liverpool, including impressive wins over Tottenham Hotspur (2:1) and Brighton & Hove Albion (1:0). Even if he doesn’t take over at Anfield now, his move to a top club feels like only a matter of time.
Slightly shorter odds are given to Pepijn Lijnders. The logic is simple: if Liverpool were to make a mid-season change, they’d likely prefer a trusted figure who knows the club inside out. Lijnders spent several years as Jürgen Klopp’s assistant, helping guide the team to success in both the Premier League and the Champions League. However, doubts remain: Lijnders struggled badly during his own managerial spells at NEC Nijmegen and Red Bull Salzburg. Moreover, he only joined Pep Guardiola’s staff this summer, which could complicate any potential move.
But the bookmakers’ favourite is current Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner. The Austrian has been a revelation since taking charge of the London club last year, quickly winning over supporters — Roy Hodgson is already a distant memory.
Glasner has beaten Liverpool twice this season, both times in cup competitions. The first came in the Super Cup, where Crystal Palace denied the opponents a trophy at Wembley after a penalty shoot-out. With his contract nearing expiry, Glasner looks more attainable than ever, meaning that if Liverpool do part ways with Slot, he’s widely expected to be the first to receive an offer he can’t refuse.
Next Liverpool manager odds
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