Xabi Alonso, the leading candidate to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool, according to Sky Sports

At Anfield, the ongoing debate has shifted from being purely tactical to fundamentally structural. While Arne Slot’s name remains written on the whiteboard, a parallel conversation is gaining momentum—one that interrogates the immediate future of the Liverpool dugout. The latest Premier League results have triggered an internal alarm, and although the project is still breathing in Europe, the sensation of stagnation in domestic competition has opened the door for a profound evaluation of the management.

The recent victory against Marseille in the UEFA Champions League provided a temporary relief, but it wasn't enough to mask the mounting doubts surrounding the English championship. Liverpool has now accumulated five consecutive matches without a win in the Premier League, a stretch defined by four draws and a devastating defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.

For a club of Liverpool’s stature, accustomed to fighting at the summit, a month without a league victory is an eternity. The immediate consequence has been painful: falling out of the Top 4. In the 2025-2026 season, where competition from Manchester City, Arsenal, and a resurgent Chelsea is relentless, these dropped points feel like a slow-motion car crash for the supporters.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), known for their measured approach, maintains a public stance of serenity. The official line is clear: there will be no impulsive decisions or mid-season shifts. This patience distinguishes Liverpool from other "Big Six" rivals. However, "tranquility" should not be confused with "complacency." Internal analysis of the project's trajectory is underway, and alternative scenarios for the 2026-27 season are already being discussed.

This is where Xabi Alonso enters the frame. The Basque manager’s recent departure from Real Madrid has reignited an old flame at Anfield that never truly went out. Within the corridors of English football, it is considered "natural" that the former midfield maestro possesses the perfect profile to inherit the club's identity. Sources close to Alonso suggest that the manager is open to the challenge, provided the circumstances align for a return to the place he once called home.

Publicly, the locker room remains firmly behind Slot. Captain Virgil van Dijk has been vocal in his defense of the manager, acknowledging that criticism is part of the game but emphasizing Slot’s poise during this delicate period.

Yet, the pressure is tied to a massive financial investment. After spending nearly €500 million in the last transfer window to reshape the post-Klopp era, the current league standing is difficult to justify. Inheriting the legacy of Jürgen Klopp was never going to be easy, but the "grace period" for the new regime is rapidly expiring.

Arne Slot still holds the keys to his own destiny. With Liverpool well-positioned in the European rankings and advancing to the fourth round of the FA Cup, the narrative can still be flipped. As seasoned voices at Melwood often say: "Results silence the noise."

However, as the ball continues to roll, the shadow of Xabi Alonso remains present—a persistent echo that modulates the destiny of the scarlet bench, even if no one is willing to say it out loud just yet.