Slot Set to Stay at Liverpool as Alonso Links Firmly Dismissed

Arne Slot appears set to remain Liverpool manager beyond this season, with Fabrizio Romano pouring cold water on persistent rumours linking club legend Xabi Alonso with a return to Anfield.

The Reds have endured a frustrating 2025-26 campaign by their standards. Despite investing around £450m in new players last summer, Jurgen Klopp's replacement has overseen a trophyless season where Liverpool have struggled to mount a credible Premier League title defence. The club currently find themselves battling for Champions League qualification rather than silverware, a far cry from supporters' expectations.

That poor form has sparked calls from the fanbase for change in the dugout, with many keen to see Alonso—who departed Real Madrid—take the reins. Last week, reports claimed Slot's departure was imminent and that Alonso's appointment was essentially rubber-stamped.

Romano, however, has dismissed such claims as wide of the mark. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the transfer expert stated: "On Xabi Alonso, I know you have many links, many questions. Someone is even saying in Germany it's already done, and Xabi Alonso is very close to Liverpool, but at the moment I'm not aware about that."

He continued: "I'm not aware of Xabi Alonso already in talks with Liverpool. Liverpool have not approached Xabi Alonso so far. Then, if they will do that in June or whenever, I will let you know, but at the moment, I'm not aware of Liverpool making any approaches."

Romano pointed out that Liverpool and Alonso last held discussions before Slot's appointment several years ago. On that occasion, Alonso opted to remain at Bayer Leverkusen before eventually moving to the Spanish capital.

The transfer insider believes Slot will get another crack at turning things around. "At the moment, Arne Slot has always received support from the owners and from the club. So that remains the case," Romano explained. "At the moment, Slot is not receiving any message about the possibility of being fired at the end of the season."

A separate report from Football Insider suggests Liverpool's American owners Fenway Sports Group are firmly behind their manager. The club have "thrown their weight behind" Slot, making it "now all but certain" he will lead the side next season.

FSG appear willing to stick with the 47-year-old through thick and thin, barring a genuine catastrophe. The threshold for intervention would be something dramatic—a run of four successive defeats that would eliminate Liverpool from the Champions League places and end any realistic hopes of a top-five Premier League finish.

That victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday has at least kept Liverpool's European hopes alive and may have bought Slot some breathing room as the season reaches its conclusion.