Arne Slot may have the backing of Liverpool's hierarchy for now, but the news that Xabi Alonso could be set to take the Chelsea job has irked sections of the club's support. Slot has come in for heavy criticism this season with Liverpool stuttering to a top-five finish.
The Dutchman still has credit in the bank for his stunning Premier League title win last season. Yet going without silverware this year, complete with 11 defeats so far in the league, has led some fans to call for change. Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea saw Anfield react angrily, with a deafening chorus of boos greeting Slot, his staff and players at the final whistle.
Liverpool legend Alonso has long been on the wish list of many supporters should the club seek a new man in charge. Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool that they may rue missing out on appointing Alonso if he moves to Chelsea. The Blues sacked Liam Rosenior in April and have reportedly identified Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva and ex-Real Madrid manager Alonso as leading candidates.
“I always felt Xabi would manage Liverpool at some stage,” Carragher said. “Now, I think once you manage one of Liverpool's rivals, as Chelsea are, I think it makes it a little bit more difficult. I don't see how you go from Chelsea to Liverpool, maybe a bit down the road, but I think it makes it more difficult. But he has to do what's best for him right now, and I think there will be Liverpool supporters right now looking at that situation thinking, 'That's the one we want.'”
Elsewhere, former Liverpool star Joe Cole believes Mohamed Salah was right to insist that standards should be upheld at Anfield once he leaves the club this summer. The winger's comments were interpreted as a criticism of the current culture at L4. Arne Slot pushed back on the remarks before Saturday's draw with Chelsea. Cole told Paddy Power: “Salah is well within his rights to have an opinion on the team. He’s been there for so long. Mo’s a good guy, I’m sure his comments were coming from a good place to help Liverpool. Sometimes when players say things it can come from frustration with the manager. But I think he’s correct. It looks like there aren't the same personalities in the team as they once had [to set those standards] and that needs to be addressed in the summer.”
