How Manchester City can seal Arne Slot’s Liverpool fate in next 48 hours
Arne Slot’s time at Liverpool could be cut short if Manchester City can defeat Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Liverpool fans have called on Slot to be sacked, after the Dutchman’s side gave up a two-goal lead at Elland Road on Saturday.
The 3-3 draw was a further reminder of the vulnerability the Reds have developed in recent months, but the biggest story came off the pitch.
Mohamed Salah said he has been thrown under the bus by Liverpool, in an extraordinary interview that also saw the Egyptian admit that he shares no relationship with his manager.
Slot has dropped Salah from the Liverpool squad to face Inter Milan on Wednesday, with the winger now looking increasingly likely to depart in January.
Real Madrid could sack Xabi Alonso on Wednesday
Xabi Alonso has been mentioned in the race for the Liverpool job, with the Spaniard having looked likely to replace Jurgen Klopp at one stage.
Instead, the former midfielder waited for Real Madrid – a move that has not gone as imagined.
Los Blancos were battered by PSG at the Club World Cup, are four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and lost the Madrid derby to Atletico Madrid in September.
| Xabi Alonso | Real Madrid |
| Wins | 19 |
| Draws | 4 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Scored | 55 |
| Conceded | 28 |
A loss to Liverpool in November has triggered a dismal run of form, with Real Madrid winning just two of their last seven games across all competitions.
The Athletic reported on Monday that the head coach is under “real pressure” at the Bernabeu, after his side were beaten 2-0 at home on Sunday by mid-table side Celta Vigo.
Real Madrid’s senior leaders, including Florentino Perez, held internal discussions following the game, and sources consulted by the website are not confident that Alonso will still be in charge if Real Madrid are beaten by Manchester City on Wednesday.
Former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeola is among the candidates, should the 44-year-old be dismissed.
Manchester City win could trigger Liverpool action
In the months leading up to Klopp’s departure, Liverpool’s desire to bring Alonso back to Anfield was well reported.
The Spaniard was coming off the back of a historic unbeaten season with Bayer Leverkusen, and having played for the Reds between 2004 and 2009, would have had no trouble adapting to the culture.
But Alonso was not ready to leave the Bundesliga yet, and spent one more year in charge of Leverkusen.
Just 18 months later, however, the stars could finally be aligning for the Spaniard’s return, and Liverpool could have Pep Guardiola to thank.
Should Manchester City beat Real Madrid, and should Inter beat Liverpool on Wednesday, a managerial merry-go-round could be triggered, with Slot on the receiving end.