Liverpool Hierarchy Divided Over Potential Xabi Alonso Appointment as Arne Slot’s Future Hinges on Champions League Success

Liverpool's board is reportedly divided over replacing Arne Slot with Xabi Alonso as the Reds face a battle for Champions League qualification.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365

Boardroom Deliberations Intensify Amid Performance Slump

The Liverpool hierarchy is reportedly split on whether to move on from Arne Slot as the club’s domestic and European campaigns continue to stutter. While Slot secured the Premier League title in his debut season, the current term has seen the Reds fall to sixth place, leaving their Champions League qualification for next year in serious jeopardy. Reports suggest that while some decision-makers are hesitant to dismiss a title-winning coach, there is a growing internal consensus that a lack of tactical evolution may necessitate a leadership change during the summer window.

Xabi Alonso Identified as the Primary Contingency Plan

In the event that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) decides to terminate Slot’s contract, Xabi Alonso has emerged as the "peak and only" option to take the helm at Anfield. The former Liverpool midfielder, who has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid earlier this year, carries immense support from the fanbase and is viewed as the ideal candidate to restore the club's identity. Although reports of a finalized three-year agreement have been dismissed as premature, the readiness of Alonso to return to the Premier League has created a "pendulum" effect within the club’s executive offices.

Souness Critiques Lack of Collective Grit and Midfield Industry

Club legend Graeme Souness has offered a blunt assessment of Liverpool’s decline, suggesting the team has struggled to handle the "raw aggression" of Premier League opponents this season. Souness argued that while the midfield possesses technical quality on the ball, they have failed to work collectively when out of possession. According to the former captain, teams are no longer intimidated by the trip to Anfield, instead employing deep-sitting blocks and physical tactics that the current Liverpool squad has appeared unable or unwilling to embrace.