Arne Slot has faced questions over his future with Gary Lineker the latest pundit to issue a verdict which included naming his possible successorThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Gary Lineker has suggested that Xabi Alonso could replace Arne Slot at Liverpool(Image: The Rest is Football podcast)
Gary Lineker has admitted Xabi Alonso replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool for next season would not be a surprise. It has been a challenging 2025/26 season for the Premier League champions with defeat to Manchester United placing Slot back under the microscope.
Three consecutive Premier League wins before the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford had seen pressure on his job decrease but questions are are again being asked with Lineker asking the all-important one and delivering a managerial prediction.
“Would Slot be there next season? Eleven defeats in the Premier League, still in the Champions League positions,” he said to Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Xabi Alonso was there next season.”
Shearer replied: “I think in terms of what he did last season and winning the league, manager of the season. With the issues and the problems they’ve had at Liverpool this year, then yeah, I do. If it were my choice, I would have him as manager, yeah.”
Alonso has been linked with the Liverpool job since Jurgen Klopp confirmed his planned exit in January 2024. He was midway through a very successful tenure with Bayer Leverkusen at that point. Last summer, Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid but the Spaniard was sacked earlier this year
While most of the focus is on who will be in the dugout next season, Richards took aim at the players with his verdict specifically aimed at four new signings and Shearer was captured nodding in agreement.
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The former Manchester City man said: “I think where the scrutiny comes is the signings. They’ve not worked. [Alexander] Isak has been injured, Wirtz has not been at the level we all expect, Frimpong is your right winger, your right-back, it’s not really working out.
“[Milos] Kerkez has been a shadow of the player who was at Bournemouth. I don’t know if that’s pressure or if that’s the system.
“Liverpool are too slow, too passive, they’re too easy to play against. What you normally associate Liverpool with is being aggressive, hard to beat, work-rate, especially under Klopp and they’re none of those things. I’d like the manager to get a chance to turn those things around.”
Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak missed Manchester United vs Liverpool through injury
One of the key players that epitomised Klopp’s team was Mohamed Salah but he is set to depart Anfield at the end of the season.
Injury saw him miss the defeat to United but he is expected to feature in Liverpool’s final three games. Alexander Isak and Alisson were also absent on Sunday with Slot offering an update after the game.
He said: “Alisson hasn’t trained with us yet, so that makes it quite simple. We’re hoping for him to be ready next week, but we have to wait and see how the week will go. The same can be said about Alex – we’re hoping to have him back next week.”