Liverpool Sound Out Alonso as Slot's Seat Gets Hotter

The pressure is mounting on Arne Slot at Liverpool, and the club isn't waiting around to explore their options. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Reds have made preliminary contact with Xabi Alonso regarding the managerial position, should they decide to part company with the Dutchman.

The timing is hardly coincidental. Just days after Slot orchestrated an impressive 3-0 victory away at Marseille in midweek Champions League action, Liverpool's mood soured dramatically on Saturday. A 3-2 home defeat to Bournemouth—capped by Amine Adli's injury-time winner—has left the club licking their wounds and questioning their direction.

The manner of the loss will sting particularly hard. Liverpool clawed their way back from two goals down to level through Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai, only to capitulate in the closing moments. With a potential drop to ninth place in the Premier League table looming if results elsewhere go against them, the club's investment of over £400m in the transfer market since Slot's arrival looks increasingly questionable.

Alonso, recently sacked by Real Madrid, is understood to be in a reflective period and not prepared to accept just any opportunity. However, Fichajes reports that the former Liverpool midfielder has responded positively to initial soundings from Anfield. The club views him as "an increasingly solid option, both in the short and medium term," whilst Slot's backing from the board is apparently restricted to the end of the season.

"The club doesn't want to take any chances," the report states. "Therefore, they've sounded out Xabi Alonso's representatives to gauge his future interest. The response has been positive, which brings peace of mind and opens up a clear path forward."

Slot himself attempted to put a brave face on proceedings in his post-match debrief, pointing to the fixture congestion that has ravaged his squad. "Frustrating, of course, because conceding a goal is always frustrating but especially if there's no time left to come back into the game," he told reporters. "After we scored the 2-2, we were still trying but I think it's safe to say a few players of ours ran out of energy."

The manager highlighted an unusual scheduling quirk working against his side. "We are the only team that played in the Champions League that has two days between in this time," he explained. "After an away game then another away game against one of the most intense teams in the league. I mainly play the same players because of the players we have available."

Slot insisted that elsewhere in the contest, Liverpool had dominated proceedings. "For the rest of the game it was completely different. There we dominated the game," he added. The problem, of course, is that dominating for 80 minutes counts for nothing when you concede in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

While the club remains reluctant about making mid-season managerial changes, results increasingly appear to be dictating the conversation. Slot's honeymoon period—secured by last season's Premier League title—is rapidly cooling.