Liverpool given warning over replacing Arne Slot with Xabi Alonso as Reds suffer Premier League low

Liverpool fans have been urged to reconsider their calls for Xabi Alonso to succeed Arne Slot as manager.

The Reds boss is under mounting pressure as his side’s stuttering season, which has seen them spectacularly fail to defend their title, continued on Sunday.

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Their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford saw the Red Devils complete a Premier League double over their bitter rivals.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s wait for Champions League qualification continues as they remain four points away from guaranteeing a top five finish.

Goals from Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Kobbie Mainoo were enough to seal a home win for United.

It came after the visitors had fought back from two goals down at the start of the second half only to concede a late winner.

Slot’s side have now suffered 11 league defeats this season following their title triumph last term.

Although he has a year remaining on his Anfield contract, it is unclear if the Dutchman will remain in charge beyond the summer.

Former Reds midfielder Alonso is a fan favourite choice to succeed Slot, having left Real Madrid in January.

talkSPORT understands the Spaniard is ready to return to the dugout ahead of next season.

Scott Minto has warned that Alonso would provide a similar style of play to Slot as opposed to returning to Jurgen Klopp’s beloved ‘heavy metal’ approach.

The talkSPORT co-host shared his thoughts during Sunday’s clash with United.

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Speaking on GameDay Live, Minto explained: “He won the title last season, it was almost just saving off the inevitable, because Jurgen Klopp, on the pitch, it was heavy metal football.

“But actually he’s one of the most charismatic people in world football, and Arne Slot’s just not that.

“I think he’s quite a cool dude, I think he’s a coach, I think he’s dealt with a lot of things on and off the pitch with absolute class, but he’s not Jurgen Klopp.

“I think for all those people who are out there saying, ‘got to get rid of him, and I’m not happy with the football, and Xabi Alonso’s out there,’ well Xabi Alonso’s style of play and philosophy is closer to Arne Slot than it is to Jurgen Klopp.

“He’s very much into that possession base, control the game, and play that way, so I’m not going to say be careful what you wish for, but let’s give Arne Slot a little bit of a chance.

“I would sit down with him, I’d look in the whites of his eyes and say, ‘right, what you got? How much can we rely on you?’

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“And actually I think recruitment perhaps need to think about themselves.

“If things don’t go well, we can’t rely on Arne Slot having a 60-70 per cent recruitment impact, because he might not be there come Christmas.”

Unwanted history

Liverpool’s set-piece frailties were exposed once again on Sunday as they made unwanted history at Old Trafford.

The manner of Cunha’s opener which will cause concern for Slot as worrying habits continued for the Reds.

Cunha fired past Freddie Woodman from the edge of the box after Liverpool had failed to clear Bryan Mbeumo’s corner.

It marked the 17th goal the Reds have conceded from a set-piece in the Premier League this term, excluding penalties.

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As a result, the club have set a new record, surpassing their previous highest tally of 16 during the 1992/93 campaign.

Their woes continued as Sesko doubled United’s lead just eight minutes later after a VAR check deemed he had not handled the ball.

However, Liverpool issued the perfect response as they scored twice in nine minutes at the start of the second half.

Dominik Szoboszlai reduced the deficit before an error from Senne Lammens gifted Cody Gakpo the chance to equalise.

The quickfire double wiped out United’s lead within the first 11 minutes following the restart.

They were unable to hold on for a point after fighting their way back into the match, though.

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Instead, Kobbie Mainoo restored the home side’s lead with 13 minutes remaining.

The midfielder finished brilliantly from the edge of the box to book United’s place in next season’s Champions League.

With three matches remaining, they sit 12 points clear of sixth place Bournemouth.