Slot’s Contract, Alonso Hype And A Bit Of Doubt

There’s already plenty of noise around what happens next with Arne Slot, and who might follow him, even though he’s barely settled into the job. For me, the contract situation and the way people are talking about Xabi Alonso are both worth a proper second look.

Slot’s Contract And The Cost Of Change

From what’s been reported, Slot is on a three-year deal. The way I see it, any real decision about that third year will depend heavily on how the rest of this season plays out. If things go well, there’s no debate. If they don’t, then the club and Edwards have a big call to make.

The important bit is what it actually means to move him on. You’d imagine Liverpool would be on the hook for a significant payout if they decided to terminate early. Top managers and their staff do not come cheap, and ripping up contracts has never been a trivial thing for any Premier League club. It’s not Football Manager where you just click and replace.

So when you hear people talking casually about “sack him if it doesn’t click”, you have to remember the financial and football knock-on effects. Changing the manager isn’t just about the next exciting name, it’s about paying off the old one, reshaping the staff, and shifting the squad again to fit a new approach. That all adds risk.

Alonso: Legend As A Player, But Is He Really A Sure Thing?

On to Alonso. As a player for us, he was brilliant. Then, as he moved on, he reached genuine world-class levels. No one is arguing with his quality on the pitch or the love he still gets from the fanbase. That emotional pull is huge, and you can feel why so many supporters see him as the dream appointment.

But the question I keep coming back to is: are we completely certain he’s ready for the Premier League and for the Liverpool job in particular? People throw around that line about the Bundesliga being a “farmer’s league”, and while that’s harsh on the league itself, it shows there’s still a bit of scepticism about how success there translates to England.

On top of that, his start at Real Madrid hasn’t been electric so far. That doesn’t mean he’s not good enough, or that he won’t grow into a top-class manager, it just means the path is not as straightforward as some make it sound. Managing big clubs comes with a different type of pressure, and it can take time to adjust.

Between Romance And Reality

I’m not saying Alonso isn’t capable of managing Liverpool one day. He might well be. I’m just asking whether there are any doubts, because from the outside he seems to have become the overwhelming choice to replace Slot if things go south, almost by default.

There’s the romantic story on one side: beloved ex-player, modern ideas, connection with the fans. On the other side, there’s the reality: the Premier League is brutal, the step up is massive, and we’re talking about replacing a manager who is still right at the start of his project.

So maybe the sensible approach, for now, is to let Slot’s season run its course, judge him on what happens on the pitch, and keep Alonso in the “interesting option” category rather than “guaranteed saviour”. Emotion has its place at Liverpool, but you’d hope the big decisions will be made with a clear head as well as a full heart.

Written by West Derby Wanderer IV: 13 December 2025