Several Liverpool journalists appeared united in their belief that the club may need a managerial change to spark a major turnaround at Anfield.
Their reaction came after Liverpool’s dreadful 4-2 loss to Aston Villa, with the scoreline arguably flattering Arne Slot’s side after they were thoroughly outplayed in Birmingham.
Although two set-piece strikes from Virgil van Dijk reduced the damage on the scoreboard, Unai Emery’s team fully deserved the victory, which also sealed UEFA Champions League qualification for the home side.
Questions growing over Slot’s future
Many now feel Liverpool must seriously consider moving on from Slot and begin planning for a fresh era ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Journalists including David Lynch and Lewis Steele reportedly shared similar concerns on X, suggesting it is becoming increasingly difficult to see the Dutch coach turning Liverpool’s struggles around.
There is recognition that Slot inherited difficult circumstances after arriving from Feyenoord, and injuries have certainly affected the squad throughout the season.
However, critics argue that substantial investment was still made into a team that won the Premier League title last season, making the dramatic decline harder to justify.
The midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai has come under scrutiny, while defensive issues persist despite the core of the backline remaining largely unchanged aside from injuries to Alisson Becker and the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Calls for Xabi Alonso to replace Slot
Some supporters and commentators are now urging Liverpool to move quickly for Xabi Alonso before other clubs step in.
Despite reports suggesting Liverpool’s hierarchy still backs Slot because of last season’s success and internal data supporting his suitability for the role, critics remain unconvinced.
For many, the defeat to Aston Villa was not an isolated disaster but another example of the same weak and uninspiring performances seen repeatedly this season.
There is also skepticism that a few new signings in the summer transfer window would be enough to solve the deeper problems within the squad.
As a result, calls for Liverpool to part ways with Slot are continuing to grow louder.
