Liverpool identify “exceptional” manager as top target if Slot sacked amid worst run since 1953

Liverpool could turn to Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique as their top managerial target if they decide to sack Arne Slot, according to recent reports. The Premier League champions are enduring their worst run of form since 1953, with just nine wins from their last 12 matches. Former manager Jurgen Klopp could return as an emergency solution until the end of the season, before Liverpool make a permanent move for the PSG boss.

After a summer of major upgrades, during which Liverpool broke the British transfer record twice to bring in both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a combined £241 million, expectations were sky high. The rest of England looked on assuming the country’s most successful team would make light work of retaining their crown. But things have not gone according to plan.

While the hope was that Klopp had built the house and Slot would simply put the roof on it, many on Merseyside are now wishing they could have the Dutchman’s predecessor back in the dugout. As the man who turned the Kop from doubters into believers, delivering their sixth Champions League crown and first league title in three decades, Klopp remains the gold standard.

Liverpool hierarchy plan for life after Arne Slot

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Liverpool has never been a sacking club. In many cases, Anfield’s helmsman is revered, cherished and held in higher esteem than the players themselves. The fact they have never dismissed a league-winning manager suggests Slot will still be given time to turn the tide.

That said, the Reds’ hierarchy have already considered a plan for life after the Dutchman. The idea is that Klopp would return until the end of the season to steady the ship. The club would then work on securing their top long-term target, Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique.

Luis Enrique emerges as Liverpool long-term target

Klopp would not be a long-term solution for Liverpool. The club is eager to avoid slipping into the kind of post-Sir Alex Ferguson turmoil that left Manchester United yearning for the past for more than a decade. With that in mind, it is reportedly Luis Enrique they hope to secure for the long haul.

Contrary to popular belief, that would mean the likes of Xabi Alonso missing out on the role he was heavily linked with last summer. Enrique has worked wonders in Paris, leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League triumph last season. Highly personable and charismatic, he also fits the Klopp-type character profile the club so dearly values.

The Spaniard’s team-first mentality, along with his emphasis on player freedom and high pressing, also makes him a tantalising option. Steven Gerrard once branded him “exceptional”, highlighting the respect he commands within football circles.

PSG boss faces difficult Liverpool decision

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Whether Enrique will want to leave behind his comfortable Parisian project remains to be seen. He is almost guaranteed a league title every year at PSG and given the resources to keep building a super team. Walking away from that security to take over a struggling Liverpool side represents a significant risk.

Liverpool’s current form has shocked everyone connected with the club. Nine wins from 12 matches represents a dramatic decline for a team that dominated English football last season. Slot’s summer signings have failed to deliver the expected impact, raising questions about his ability to manage elite talent.

The coming weeks will prove decisive for Slot’s future at Anfield. Liverpool’s hierarchy remain patient by nature, but sustained poor results could force their hand. If that happens, Klopp’s short-term return and Enrique’s long-term appointment would signal a dramatic shift in direction for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.