Ever since Steven Gerrard retired after playing almost his entire career for Liverpool (19 seasons), it has been in the cards that one day, he will return as manager. – Success in Scotland for Rangers, but a downturn back in the Premier League for Aston Villa with subsequent desert football in Qatar he blah, when Jürgen Klopp left almost two seasons ago weighed and found too light.
Now he is clubless after two seasons as manager of Al-Ettifaq, it is said that Gerrard is very keen on a comeback to Anfield as soon as the job becomes available.
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It is not as obvious, another Liverpool legend, with far less experience, and former teammate Xabi Alonso is the favorite to take over from manager Arne Slot.
Xabi Alonso may not be the chosen one for the Anfield bench after all.
Liverpool could experience very turbulent weeks on the coaching bench. Arne Slot’s continuation is all but ruled out for next season, and at Anfield work is already underway to define who will lead the project in the near future.
Poor results recently have significantly weakened the Dutch coach’s position. Although it is still uncertain whether he will finish the season as manager of the team or not, it is already accepted within the club that his time at the Liverpool kid is coming to an end.
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Arne Slot is nearing retirement
Liverpool’s season has not lived up to the expectations that were created after Arne Slot’s arrival. The coach came to Anfield with the difficult task of carrying on the legacy of Jürgen Klopp, but the results have not kept up with the expected regularity.
The last few weeks have been particularly challenging for the team. Misses in the league and uncertainty in the game have created an atmosphere of increasing pressure around the coach.
There is concern at the club about the lack of stability in the team’s performance. For this reason, the board is already analyzing various scenarios to resolve the situation on the coaching bench.
One of the biggest uncertainties is whether Slot will continue for the rest of the season, or if the club chooses an immediate change to try and correct the course in the latter part of the season.
Xabi Alonso, favourite for the future
For months, the name that has been most prominent in the Anfield offices has been Xabi Alonso. The Spanish coach made a brilliant impression during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, and his past as a Liverpool player makes him a very attractive candidate for the Reds’ bench.
The club especially values his football philosophy, his ability to build solid projects and his knowledge of the club. During his time as a player, Xabi Alonso became one of the most beloved players among Liverpool supporters.
That emotional connection, combined with his development as a coach, has led many at the club to consider him the ideal candidate to start a new chapter at Anfield.
However, his possible arrival cannot happen immediately.
Steven Gerrard emerges as a temporary solution, but
Over the past few hours, a name has emerged that could disrupt Liverpool’s plans. It’s Steven Gerrard, a legend at the club and one of the biggest idols in Anfield’s history.
The former midfielder enjoys immense support from the fans, and his return to the club would excite the supporters. According to various reports, Gerrard could take on the coaching role in the short term if Liverpool decide to sack Arne Slot before the end of the season.
The club’s idea would be to use this solution as a transition phase while they prepare for Xabi Alonso’s arrival for next season. In this way, Gerrard was able to stabilize the team in the latter part of the season before the sporting project takes a new direction.
For now, Liverpool continue to consider their options. What seems clear is that the Anfield bench will be one of the main focal points in the coaching market in the coming months.
Should Steven Gerrard be invited back as a substitute for the rest of the season, he could, as often happens, have the opportunity to convince and get the job permanently. “We will know much more soon.
On Wednesday, Liverpool host Galatasaray at Anfield in the second round of 16 of the Champions League, only a solid win and further advancement is good enough for Arne Slot.
