Liverpool may be forced to appoint an interim head coach if Arne Slot is sacked in the wake of Mohamed Salah‘s public outburst. The current Reds manager was already under pressure before Salah ramped it up by launching a stinging attack following Sunday’s draw against Leeds United. He was an unused substitute at Elland Road but stole the headlines by claiming that he may have already played his last game for Liverpool.
Salah also revealed that his relationship with Slot had completely broken down and suggested that he had been made a scapegoat for Liverpool‘s recent problems. As a result, it looks like something will have to give, whether that is Salah leaving in January or Slot being relieved of his duties. If it is the latter, Liverpool will need to find an immediate replacement to guide them out of their current slump.
Express Sport looks at four managers who could immediately take over at Liverpool in such a scenario…
The former Reds boss is the only manager on this list who is not currently unemployed, but he’s not working in management. He has been Red Bull‘s head of global football since January but might find it difficult to turn down his former club if they come calling.
It would certainly be a crowd-pleaser, given the legendary status Klopp still enjoys at Anfield. However, there is a risk he could tarnish his legacy if he returns for a second spell and it all goes wrong.
Steven Gerrard
The ex-Liverpool skipper has already been touted as a potential interim should Slot be sacked in the near future. He rejected a return to Rangers earlier this season but would almost certainly jump at the chance to manage his beloved Reds.
That said, there may be concerns in some quarters about whether the 45-year-old is up to it when sentiment is removed from the equation. His managerial record is not exactly stellar and there is a distinct lack of experience at the very highest level.
Gary O’Neil
The former Wolves manager would certainly be a surprise choice, but he already has a link with the Premier League champions. He previously worked in their academy system as the assistant manager of their under-23 side between 2020 and 2021.
Some of the youngsters he managed are now in the first-team squad, which suggests O’Neil could be a wise choice to steady the ship despite not being the most attractive name on this list.
Perhaps the most unlikely candidate out of the four, the ex-Tottenham boss remains out of work following his sacking by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days.
In spite of his nightmare spell at the City Ground, the charismatic Aussie remains a football obsessive and certainly loves a challenge. He would surely relish the opportunity to drag Liverpool out of their current plight, but the Reds will probably be looking at other candidates.