Liverpool's Manager Pic at a Glance: Alonso vs Slot, and the Clock Keeps Ticking

The debate over Liverpool's next manager continues to swirl as reports clash over whether the Dutch coach Arne Slot could be replaced by Spanish tactician Xabi Alonso.

Two weeks ago, reports suggested Alonso had agreed to coach Liverpool for three seasons starting next season, with the only thing that could derail the deal being Liverpool lifting the Champions League under Slot.

What the latest reports suggest

But quickly, credible outlets—most notably The Athletic—claimed Liverpool view Slot as part of the solution, intending him to stay and even play a role in shaping transfers.

Today, the saga of conflicting rumours persists, with the Daily Mail indicating that winning the FA Cup and securing a top-four finish would be enough to keep Slot.

The German outlet Bild, by contrast, said Liverpool had decided on Alonso as the new manager after this season.

The Telegraph in Britain echoed the German account, reporting Alonso's deal was close.

Liverpool had previously courted Alonso in the summer of 2024 after his historic double with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal without a single loss.

But Alonso declined then, choosing to stay with Leverkusen after that historic run.

Last summer, Liverpool again approached Alonso, but he opted for a different challenge, taking charge of Real Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti's successor.

That spell at Real Madrid did not last long, as results slipped and tensions brewed within the dressing room, notably around Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior during the Clasico with Barcelona.

The uncertainty persists as the season ends, and fans wait to see who will steer the club next year.

Punchline 1: If rumors were goals, Liverpool would already have a trophy cabinet full of headlines.

Punchline 2: And if chaos had a manager, it would be the only club that could schedule press conferences on deadline day and still be late to kickoff.