A few months ago, had you told any Liverpool fan that Arne Slot would be under pressure, they likely would have laughed in your face. Fresh off winning the Premier League during the Dutchman’s debut campaign, the Reds spent heavily to reinforce their squad with elite players, including Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike.
But a week is a long time in football, and the situation at Anfield has deteriorated rapidly. The Merseysiders have now lost eight of their last 14 games in all competitions, including six of their last 10 in the Premier League, with a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Nottingham Forest the latest defeat in a string of poor results. The team are now eighth in the table and 10 points behind league leaders Arsenal, and while reports indicate that Slot is not under internal pressure at the club, that could change if form continues to spiral.
Should the unthinkable happen and Slot is shown the door, there will be a queue of managers waiting to take the reins. But who are the favourites to replace the current Liverpool boss? Sky Bet have compiled the managers with the best odds to show exactly who is leading the charge.
Ranking Every Premier League Manager by How Likely They Are to Be Sacked
The 20 managers at every Premier League club by how likely they are to be sacked next.
15
Mauricio Pochettino
Odds – 25/1
The current manager of the United States national team, Pochettino has great experience in the Premier League, having managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in his career.
The Argentine has also led Paris Saint-Germain to Ligue 1 glory, but is now in the international game and has guided his side to the 2026 World Cup next summer. While he has a great reputation, there’s no doubting that he would be a real outside shot for the job at this stage, with all things considered, and it should be considered highly unlikely that either party push to make it happen.
14
Cesc Fabregas
Odds – 25/1
Currently working wonders at Como, who, against all odds, are sitting fifth in the Serie A table, Cesc Fabregas might be the hottest manager in world football right now. Tactically innovative, and with the hunger that comes with those new to management, it surely won’t be long before he’s snapped up by a bigger club.
The Liverpool job, at odds of 25/1, might just come too early for him, though. With the Reds needing a solution, taking a punt on an inexperienced head coach might prove to be enough to turn their focus elsewhere.
13
Brendan Rodgers
Odds – 16/1
Jobless after finding himself at loggerheads with the Celtic owners during his second stint with the Glasgow giants, a return to Liverpool for Brendan Rodgers would arguably be the most incredible turn of events the club has seen in its recent history – and not necessarily for good reasons.
The Northern Irishman has already had one bite of the cherry, and other than a second-placed finish in the 2013/14 season, his stint was pretty unremarkable. Who knows what he would manage with the current squad and extra backing, but Liverpool supporters will surely take on the opinion that this era of the club is better left in the past.
12
Ange Postecoglou
Odds – 14/1
If you think his 39-day reign as Nottingham Forest manager, which ended after a run of eight winless matches, would have deterred Liverpool from keeping tabs on Ange Postecoglou, then think again. At odds of 14/1, there’s a genuine chance his not-so-pragmatic management could become an eye sore at Anfield.
Should those calling the shots at the Merseyside club have any sense, they’d stay well away from the former Tottenham boss, whose high-line defence only just kept his Europa League-winning team safe from relegation. Going from a project manager to one whose only real guarantee is chaos, would be quite something.
11
Xavi
Odds – 14/1
The legendary midfielder has won league titles in Qatar and Spain, with his beloved Barcelona, and is currently a free agent after departing the Camp Nou in May 2024 following a bust-up with the board.
Known for his possession-heavy style of play and attack-minded process, he would likely be a popular appointment at Anfield, and it has been reported that he would be open to a move to England for his next job. However, whether his lack of experience at the highest level as a manager would count against him remains to be seen, and with the club’s biggest issue being their balance across the team, a shift in identity at this stage could be a problem the board would rather do without.
10
Marco Silva
Odds – 14/1
Silva has garnered a great reputation after doing a top job at Fulham, but the former Watford and Everton boss is largely untested at the very top level.
The Portuguese coach is out of contract at Craven Cottage in the summer, although GMS understands that he has been offered a new deal. It could be relatively cheap to get him into Anfield now, but whether he would leave in mid-season remains to be seen, and there would be major question marks from the fan base if he was selected to take over the struggling reigning champions, considering his CV.
9
Simone Inzaghi
Odds – 14/1
After reaching the Champions League final last season with Inter Milan, Inzaghi made the move to the Middle East in the summer, but a return to one of Europe’s elite clubs could potentially be too good to turn down.
Known for a more pragmatic style, the Italian would undoubtedly bring some solidity to Anfield’s defence to solve their recent issues, while his teams always provide a threat going forward.
It would be a big surprise to see him leave Saudi Arabia so early into his reign there, but Liverpool don’t come calling often, so it’s certainly one to look out for after he entered the market at 14/1.
8
Zinedine Zidane
Odds – 12/1
As one of the greatest players of all time, one thing that Zinedine Zidane would do is command the respect of all players in his squad. But, arguably even more importantly, he would bring a winning mentality. The former France international won two league titles during his first spell at Real Madrid, as well as three consecutive Champions League trophies – quite the resume.
To make matters even more interesting, Zidane remains out of work, having not managed since leaving Los Blancos in May 2021. And he’s spoken about his admiration for Liverpool’s stadium, stating that Anfield was the best stadium that he played in. It feels like it could be the perfect opportunity for the 53-year-old to return to coaching.
7
Steven Gerrard
Odds – 10/1
Mr Liverpool himself, Gerrard is a free agent and has recently admitted that he is looking for his next job, and a return to Anfield would undoubtedly be a fairytale for all involved.
Gerrard won the league at Rangers before ill-fated spells with Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, but his connection to the Reds would surely make the role impossible for him to turn down if it were offered to him, and it could be one the fans are clamouring for as they look for a reason to believe once again.
A temporary spell in charge until the end of the season could be ideal for everyone involved. Gerrard was 25/1 as recently as the weekend, but he’s now dropped all the way to 10/1, so there is surely something to keep an eye on here.
6
Julian Nagelsmann
Odds – 10/1
Much like Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann was considered by the club’s hierarchy when they were searching for a successor to the aforementioned Klopp. However, the German elected to remain at his post with the German national side.
The former RB Leipzig boss has often received rave reviews for his tactical intelligence, attracting interest from multiple clubs through the years. So, should Liverpool need someone who can incorporate Wirtz, Isak, Ekitike and Mohamed Salah into one team, then Nagelsmann could very well be the man they need. Unfortunately for the Reds, he signed a contract extension with Die Mannschaft in January 2025, which will keep him in his current post until the end of Euro 2028.
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