Liverpool could hire 4-3-3 manager ‘on par with Pep’

Liverpool manager Arn Slott may have bought a little more time from his fan base after Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Fulham at Anfield.

The Dutch manager may have been feeling the heat after his side’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this week, but the Reds quickly bounced back with a win.

The Telegraph recently reported that the owners believe Slott needs at least another transfer window to turn the club’s fortunes around and are backing him for now.

However, it has also been reported that Slott is expected to be sacked by Liverpool if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, whether they finish in the Premier League or win this season’s Champions League.

Additionally, out-of-work manager Xabi Alonso is said to be open to returning to Anfield, where he spent his playing days, after leaving Real Madrid earlier this year.

Why Liverpool shouldn’t appoint Xabi Alonso

Liverpool should avoid any move to appoint a Spanish head coach, although he is reportedly interested in replacing Slott in the Anfield dugout in 2026-27.

Alonso made his name as a manager after leading Bayer Leverkusen to an astonishing unbeaten run to the Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season with a 3-4-2-1 system featuring current Liverpool stars Jeremy Frimpong and Florian Wirths.

However, the following season, Leverkusen finished 13 points behind Bayern Munich in the title race and lost to Arminia Bielefeld, second in the Bundesliga, in the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal.

Real Madrid then suddenly appointed him to replace Carlo Ancelotti last summer. He was in charge for 28 games before being sacked when they were second in LaLiga.

His performance since winning the Bundesliga unbeaten, and the fact that no manager since Antonio Conte, who managed Chelsea in 2016/17, has won the Premier League with a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 system suggests that this is a dangerous man to appoint.

A better manager for Liverpool than title-winning manager Xabi Alonso

It remains to be seen whether Alonso was a one-season wonder, or whether his tactical outlook is suited to fight for glory in the Premier League, but if Liverpool decide to move on from Slott, it may be best to look elsewhere.

The Reds will therefore have to consider alternative options arriving in the summer to take the team forward, and there is one unemployed manager who could be an ideal appointment.

Xavi Hernández was a brilliant central midfielder during his playing days, and although he has been unemployed since leaving Barcelona in 2024, he did well with the Catalan giants and Al Sadd in Qatar.

Thierry Henry once said that Shayev was “comparable to Pep (Guardiola)” in terms of his footballing spirit and ability to inspire players, suggesting he would command instant respect within the Anfield dressing room.

His accomplishments as a manager also suggest that players respect him and his methods. That’s because he won the league title with Al Sadd in his second year as manager, and the La Liga title in his first full season with Barcelona.

The Spanish tactician, who usually plays the 4-3-3 formation favored by title winners in recent Premier League seasons, won five cup competitions in just over two years with Al Sadd and one Super Cup with Barcelona.

Xavi, unlike Alonso, enjoyed success in multiple countries and won trophies over several seasons while deploying formations that proved effective at Premier League level under other managers such as Jurgen Klopp and Josep Guardiola.

His managerial career and tactical outlook suggest he is a better option than Alonso, as his suitability for the Premier League is questionable, which is why Liverpool should seek to sign the former Barcelona manager.