Liverpool Football Club faces mounting speculation about its managerial future as pressure intensifies on current head coach Arne Slot, with club legend Steven Gerrard emerging as a potential successor according to bookmakers.
Pressure builds on Dutch manager
The situation at Anfield has become increasingly tense following Liverpool's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, marking their sixth loss in just seven matches. This poor run of form has placed significant pressure on Slot, who only replaced the popular Jurgen Klopp in 2024.
Bookmakers have now installed former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as an outsider to potentially take over the managerial role should the club's hierarchy decide to make a change. The 45-year-old has been without a coaching position since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January.
Heskey voices concerns about experience
Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, who played alongside Gerrard during his Anfield career, has expressed reservations about whether his former teammate currently possesses the necessary experience for such a high-profile role.
"He needs more experience," Heskey stated in comments via BetBrain. "He definitely needs more experience because you're going into the biggest job, or one of the biggest jobs in the world. The scrutiny of everything you do or say or what the players do comes back on you."
Heskey did acknowledge that Gerrard remains an attractive prospect for clubs abroad, suggesting that teams outside England would "love Steven Gerrard as their manager."
Gerrard's managerial career so far
The former England midfielder does bring previous Premier League experience to the table, having spent eleven months as Aston Villa head coach before his departure. His most notable achievement came during his tenure at Rangers, where he guided the Ibrox side to their first Scottish Premiership title since 2010-11 during the 2020-21 season.
Gerrard recently turned down the opportunity to return to Rangers, having held discussions with club officials in October about replacing Russell Martin. He has maintained a presence in football through punditry work, recently appearing as an analyst for Liverpool's match against Aston Villa.
Interestingly, former manager Jurgen Klopp had previously endorsed Gerrard as his potential successor back in 2019, stating: "If you ask who should follow me, I'd say Stevie. I help him whenever I can."
As Liverpool navigate this challenging period, the debate continues about whether the club's iconic former captain represents the solution to their current troubles or whether, as Heskey suggests, he requires further managerial development before taking on one of football's most pressurised roles.
