Richard Hughes received well-deserved praise for overseeing Premier League champions Liverpool’s incredible summer transfer window, but that positivity was dashed by a dreadful performance that brought down Arne Slott’s reign.
Nine defeats in 12 games is bad enough, but the limp appearance of a number of defeats, particularly the recent Champions League losses to Nottingham Forest at Anfield and PSV Eindhoven, highlights the severity of the crisis facing Slott.
he needs to find an answer. Otherwise, FSG will be forced to make an unprecedented dismissal of its management. It is inevitable that the debate over the security of Mr. Slott’s position will increase.
That would be an outcome that most of the Red Army persuasion would not want, not least because of the lack of options.
Jurgen Klopp’s name is being bandied about, but this is not realistic.
Who could Liverpool replace Slot with?
Klopp brought an end to the Liverpool dynasty at the end of the 2023/24 season. he was tired. His heavy metal career on Merseyside was tough and grueling, where he devoted nine years to restoring Anfield as a global superpower.
Klopp’s silverware at Liverpool | ||
|---|---|---|
competition | Number of wins | season |
premier league | 1x | 19/20 |
champions league | 1x | 18/19 |
FA Cup | 1x | 21/22 |
carabao cup | 2x | 21/22, 23/24 |
club world cup | 1x | 19/20 |
UEFA Super Cup | 1x | 19/20 |
community shield | 1x | 22/23 |
Dates via Transfermarkt | ||
There has been debate online as to whether FSG should aim for a comeback, but this glorified idea will likely fail.
Klopp is not the answer. Upon his semi-retirement, he became Red Bull’s head of global soccer, but it is important to remember that the German tactician’s tactical acumen diminished towards the end of his tenure. After all, he was tired.
However, if Slott is sacked, Liverpool will need to find a replacement, with Spanish sources suggesting Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is on the shortlist.
Iraola, 43, is one of Europe’s most exciting young managers and has built the Cherries into a sharp attacking front-footer.
Compensation would be needed to lure him away from the Vitality Stadium, but given Iraola’s vision aligns with the club’s long-term project, he could be the man to sign.
Why Iraola is perfect for Liverpool
It was a bold move for Bournemouth to let Gary O’Neill go after the pragmatic manager steered the club towards safety following promotion to the Premier League in 2022-23. For Iraora, a bold but passionately executed move was designated as a progressive option.
And I’m sure Bill Foley would be happy too. In the 2023/24 season, Bournemouth recorded a record total of points (56) in the Premier League, with journalist James Horncastle hailing him as ‘the best manager in the Premier League’ for his sharp wit and positive approach.
Iraora likes attacking and energetic football. Although he is not as turbo-charged in his approach as Klopp, the Spaniard will inject more risk-taking and directness into Liverpool than Slott would prefer, while still focusing on retaining possession.
This could play to the strengths of Florian Wirths, who has struggled since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million in the summer.
A smooth and creative attacking midfielder, the German has yet to be involved in a goal in the Premier League and lacked the clarity and composure that was expected after the excitement of his official announcement.
There’s still world-class talent out there, and Wirtz’s predicament comes with the caveat that he’s fallen into a dysfunctional tactical system.
Iraola’s focus on a 4-2-3-1 formation suggests the 22-year-old could find a natural position in number 10. According to FBref, he ranks in the top 11% of players by position in England’s top flight this season in shot creation actions, and in the top 4% in pass attempts and progressive passes per 90.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the completed pass into the opponent’s goal or into the penalty area.
This suggests that Werts has the potential to become a superstar in England and that Iraola can provide the tactical stability and fluency that will help him achieve that.
He may not be Klopp’s manager, but Iraola describes his tactics as similar to “rock’n’roll”. Klopp’s famous branding, which described his vision as ‘heavy metal football’, suggests Liverpool could hit the jackpot by making this switch.
No one wants to see Slott fired, but this pathetic form and level of performance cannot be allowed to continue, and Iraora has the foresight to bring Wirtz back and put the champions back in the ascendancy.
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Arne Slott’s tenure at Liverpool is unraveling before him and FSG are considering a change.
