Liverpool may be forced to appoint an interim head coach if Arne Slott is sacked following Mohamed Salah’s public abuse. The current Reds manager was already under pressure after Sunday’s draw with Leeds United until Salah ramped up the pressure with a sharp attack. He was an unused substitute at Elland Road but has already hit the headlines by claiming he may have played his final game for Liverpool.
Salah also revealed that his relationship with Slott has completely broken down, suggesting he has been made the scapegoat for Liverpool’s recent problems. As a result, it looks like something will have to give, whether Salah leaves in January or Slott is relieved of his duties. If the latter is the case, Liverpool will need to find a replacement quickly to pull themselves out of their current slump.
Express Sport looks at four managers who could immediately take over the reins at Liverpool in such a scenario…
Jurgen Klopp
The former Reds manager is the only manager on this list who is not currently unemployed, but he is not in a managerial position. He has been Red Bull’s head of global football since January, but if his former club comes along he might be hard to turn down.
It will no doubt be a crowd-pleaser, given the legendary status Klopp still enjoys at Anfield. But if he returns for a second spell and all goes wrong, there is a risk that his legacy will be tarnished.
Steven Gerrard
The former Liverpool captain has already been touted as an interim candidate should Slott be sacked in the near future. He rejected a return to Rangers earlier this season, but will almost certainly jump at the chance to manage his beloved Reds.
That said, some may be concerned about whether the 45-year-old can live up to it when sentiment is taken out of the equation. His track record as a manager is not the best and he clearly lacks experience at the highest level.
Gary O’Neill
The former Wolves manager would certainly be a surprise choice, but he already has links with the Premier League champions. He previously worked in the academy system as assistant manager of the Under-23 team in 2020-2021.
Several of the young players he has managed are now in the first team, suggesting that O’Neill could be a smart choice to stabilize the team, despite not being the most appealing name on this list.
Ange Postecoglou
Perhaps the least likely candidate of the four, the former Tottenham manager remains unemployed just 39 days after being sacked by Nottingham Forest manager.
Despite his nightmarish days at the City Ground, the charismatic Australian is passionate about football and there’s no doubt he loves a challenge. He will no doubt relish the chance to pull Liverpool out of their current predicament, but perhaps the Reds will look to other candidates.
