Credit: Imago

Evan Shaw

Sat 21 March 2026 15:15, UK

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Arne Slot surely cannot take charge of another game at Liverpool after his team were beaten 2-1 away at Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

The Dutchman has been facing significant pressure at Anfield in recent weeks, as his team simply cannot build on the momentum created by a good performance.

Danny Welbeck was their nemesis on this occasion, as he scored twice to cancel out Milos Kerkez’s first-half equaliser, but in truth, the scoreline could have been more comfortable for the hosts.

TNT Sports revealed as part of their coverage during the second half that the Merseysiders had been outrun by their hosts by a staggering total of over five kilometres.

Slot’s position at Liverpool has been questioned by several sections of the fanbase in recent weeks, and perhaps the most damning thing about that horrific stat is that it hasn’t been an unfamiliar occurrence.

Liverpool’s energy issues a continuous concern

Liverpool’s success in recent years has largely been built upon high-octane, all-action styles of play, with Slot’s title-winning system of last season following on from what Jurgen Klopp had previously built.

However, their defence of that title hasn’t gone to plan by any means this term, as they have failed to find the consistency that became a trademark for them during their run to glory in 2024-25.

The running stats that TNT touched upon during their coverage of Saturday’s defeat were dire, and highlighted just how much Slot’s men had been outworked by their opponents across the 90 minutes.

However, it was then pointed out that Liverpool had covered less ground than their opponents in 26 of their 30 Premier League games prior to Saturday’s defeat, and that may be where the crux of their issues lies.

That is a daming reflection on Slot’s ability to motivate the players at the moment, especially considering that he managed it so effortlessly last term.

With that in mind, there is surely no way that the boss can keep his job for another game, considering that the players no longer appear to be leaving everything on the pitch for him.

Who is the favourite to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool?

Football Insider revealed on Saturday that Xabi Alonso is the favourite to replace Slot should Liverpool decide to pull the trigger in the coming weeks, or even at the end of the season.

The former Reds midfielder has been identified as a “standout candidate” to become the club’s next boss in the eyes of the board, and it could be the perfect appointment to get the fans back on side.

There is division at Anfield at the moment, with several in the fanbase keen to see Slot sacked, and others feeling that he still has plenty of credit in the bank.

A move to bring in Alonso would undoubtedly provide unity throughout the club once again, given that he was such a popular figure on Merseyside during his playing career.