Arne Slot now owns the unwanted record of the worst Premier League start by any Liverpool manager, an astonishing collapse for a coach who lifted the title only a year ago. The Reds sit a bleak ninth in mid-December, already beaten six times, with the crushing home loss to Nottingham Forest leaving Anfield in disbelief.
Europe has been no kinder. Defeats to Galatasaray and PSV have drained the last bit of optimism from supporters who once believed this team could take on the world.
The Kop has had enough.
Then came the moment that broke whatever trust remained: Slot’s fallout with Mohamed Salah. The club’s most important relationship has collapsed, and the dressing room has followed. Senior players have stepped away, their silence saying everything. They are no longer fighting for him. They are waiting for the inevitable.
Who can save Liverpool now?
Here is the list of potential candidates who could step in and rescue the club.
Option 1: John Hientega with Nagelsmann after the WC
There is a growing belief among Liverpool supporters that the club should appoint Steven Gerrard or assistant coach John Hientega until the end of the season and then bring in the German National team’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, once the World Cup is over.
While this is a possibility given Liverpool’s current situation, it could seriously derail the current season, and there is no telling how badly the team might finish if such a decision is made, potentially even hitting a record low.
Option 2: Oliver Glasner
The Austrian is high on the radar of both Liverpool & United. He has done a great job with Crystal Palace, winning two trophies with a club that was fighting relegation not long ago. Many fans want him as he would guarantee the easy transfer of Guehi & Wharton, two of Liverpool’s desired targets. The way he has transformed Palace into an opposition no one wants to face, he would be a deadly suitor for LFC, as Geggenpressing also inspires him.
Option 3: Andoni Iraola (TFB team’s choice)
Andoni Iraola is our TFB team’s first preference to replace Slot. The Spanish manager has impressed everyone with his high tactical knowledge & the way he has guided Bournemouth with a limited budget, also producing high-value players. Iraola also suits Edwards & FSG’s philosophy. Given the presence of Kerkez & Semenyo, who look all set to join Liverpool, Iraola would be a massive hit & can transform these two players.
Option 4: Sebastian Hoeneß
A VERY underrated name, but the true successor of Klopp & his Geggenpressing ideology. He is currently managing Stuttgart, a team that was in a relegation scrap when Sebastian Hoeness arrived. Ever since his arrival, the team has gone through a transformation where he ended up beating Bayern Munich to come second in the league in 2023/24, second only to unbeaten Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen.
He has a knack for developing some of the best ballers in the league. Guirassy was unstoppable under him. Stiller & Chema Andres have been unstoppable under him. Also, who can forget Nick Woltemade, the big German also had his breakout season under Hoeness.
Option 5: My preferred choice – Nicky Hayen
For those unfamiliar with Nicky Hayen, he is the current manager of Club Brugge and has already won every major trophy in Belgium, including the league title, the domestic cup and the super cup. He is highly admired by Belgian fans, and the biggest reason I prefer him for Liverpool is that he aligns perfectly with the ideology of FSG and Michael Edwards. Hayen is a results-driven manager who avoids unnecessary controversies and focuses entirely on football.
Tactical Fit
Nicky Hayen prefers a 4-2-3-1 system, a formation that allows Liverpool to fit most of their key players into their natural roles.
Improving Milos Kerkez
Hayen loves an aggressive, attack-minded left back, which matches Kerkez’s profile perfectly. Kerkez is not a build-up full-back, and under Hayen, this is not a weakness. Hayen previously turned Maxim De Cuyper into a star, and he was later sold to Brighton. He could easily bring the best out of the Hungarian as well.
Florian Wirtz in the No. 10 Role
Accommodating Wirtz in his natural ten position, where he thrived at Bayer Leverkusen, is one of Liverpool’s biggest priorities. Hayen has a strong track record with creative midfielders. Under him, Hans Vanaken became one of the top midfielders in the Belgian Pro League, producing elite numbers every season.
Developing Young Talent
One of Hayen’s greatest strengths is his ability to develop young players into major success stories. Joel Ordonez, a player currently linked with Liverpool, was developed under his guidance. Seys, Stankovic, De Cuyper, Chaibli and Carlos Forbes are among the many young players he helped turn into strong performers during his time at Club Brugge.
Stats Under Hayen
- Winning percentage: 60%
- Average points per game: 2.0
Memorable Matches Under Nicky Hayen
- Club Brugge 3-3 Barcelona (2025–26)
- Defeating Atalanta in the Champions League knockouts
- A dominant draw against Juventus (2024–25)
- Beating Aston Villa in the European group stages (2024–25)
- Reaching the semi-finals of the Conference League
