If Slot Goes, Who’s Actually Gettable?

Whenever Liverpool fans start talking about whether Arne Slot should be moved on, it quickly turns into the harder conversation: alright then, who replaces him? Because the truth is, the shortlist of genuinely top managers who are both available and a good fit is not exactly bursting at the seams.

It’s easy to throw names around. It’s much harder to land one. And even if you could, you’ve got to be convinced it’s an upgrade, not just change for the sake of it.

The problem isn’t ideas, it’s availability

Look at the so-called obvious choices and you can see the issue straight away. The best managers tend to be attached to big jobs, big squads and big backing. If they’re happy where they are, Liverpool would need more than a polite phone call to pry them loose.

Luis Enrique is the sort of name that makes immediate sense on paper, but if he’s settled and valued where he is, that’s a non-starter. That’s before you even get into whether the timing works, or whether Liverpool want a fresh cycle or a long-term builder.

The “tier below” is where the risk lives

Then you drop down a level and it gets complicated in a different way. Andoni Iraola is interesting, but jumping into Liverpool is not the same as doing a tidy job somewhere with different expectations. At Anfield it’s every three days, every decision analysed, every wobble amplified. That step up can swallow managers whole.

Xabi Alonso is a Liverpool favourite for obvious reasons, but being a great player here doesn’t guarantee being the right appointment. And if you’ve seen managers struggle in high-pressure environments elsewhere, you can understand the worry. Big clubs come with their own culture, their own noise, their own politics.

Hansi Flick is a funny one. You don’t hear him linked as often, but if you like proactive football, intensity, structure with a bit of freedom, you can see the appeal. Still, convincing someone to leave a massive European job is a different conversation entirely.

So what happens with Slot?

Even if some fans feel it would be best for Slot to go, there’s also the reality that clubs don’t always act when supporters want them to. If he’s weathered rough spells before and the current run is positive, the idea that he’ll simply walk or be pushed becomes less likely.

That leaves most of us in the same place: watching, hoping the season finishes strongly, and waiting to see whether the people upstairs take a proper look at where Liverpool are heading. Because until there’s a clear, gettable upgrade, the conversation stays stuck in limbo.

Written by Dracred: 11 January 2026