Liverpool could hire 4-3-3 manager who’s “up there with Pep”

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot may have bought himself some more time from the fanbase after securing a 2-0 win against Fulham in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday.

The Dutch boss may have been feeling the heat after his team were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier in the week, but the Reds immediately bounced back with a win.

It was recently reported by The Telegraph that the owners believe that Slot deserves at least one more transfer window to turn the club’s fortunes around, and that they are backing him for now.

However, it has also been reported that Slot is expected to be sacked by Liverpool if he fails to qualify for next season’s Champions League, whether that is through their Premier League finish or by winning the Champions League this term.

On top of that, out-of-work manager Xabi Alonso is said to be open to making a return to Anfield, where he spent time as a player, after leaving Real Madrid earlier this year.

Why Liverpool should not appoint Xabi Alonso

Despite his reported interest in replacing Slot in the dugout at Anfield for the 2026/27 campaign, Liverpool should swerve away from a move to appoint the Spanish head coach.

Alonso rose to prominence as a manager when he led Bayer Leverkusen to a remarkable unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 campaign, with current Liverpool stars Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz in his 3-4-2-1 system.

The following season, though, Leverkusen finished 13 points behind Bayern Munich in the title race and lost to 2. Bundesliga team Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal.

Real Madrid then swooped to appoint him as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement last summer. He lasted 28 games in charge before they sacked him whilst in second place in LaLiga.

His record since that unbeaten Bundesliga title and the fact that a manager has not won the Premier League with a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 system since Antonio Conte with Chelsea in the 2016/17 campaign suggests that it would be a risky appointment.

The title-winning manager who would be a better Liverpool hire than Xabi Alonso

As it remains to be seen whether or not Alonso was a one-season wonder or if his tactical outlook would suit fighting for glory in the Premier League, it may be for the best for Liverpool to look elsewhere if they decide to part ways with Slot.

Therefore, the Reds should explore alternative options to arrive in the summer to lead the team forward, and there is one out-of-work boss who could be an ideal appointment.

Xavi Hernandez, who was a brilliant central midfielder during his playing days, has been out of a job since he left Barcelona in 2024, but did good work with the Catalan giants and Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Thierry Henry once said that Xaiv is “up there with Pep (Guardiola)” for his footballing mind and ability to inspire a group of players, which suggests that he would command immediate respect within the dressing room at Anfield.

His achievements as a manager also suggest that the players would respect him and his methods, because he won a league title with Al-Sadd in his second season in management and won the LaLiga title in his first full season at Barcelona.

The Spanish tactician, who typically plays a 4-3-3 formation that is a favourite among title winners in recent Premier League seasons, also won five cup competitions in just over two years with Al-Sadd, and one Super Cup with Barcelona.

Xavi, unlike Alonso, has had success in multiple countries and won trophies across several seasons, whilst deploying a formation that has proven to be effective at Premier League level under other managers, such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.

His managerial career and tactical outlook suggest that he would be a better option than Alonso, due to the question marks over his suitability for the Premier League, and that is why Liverpool should explore a deal for the former Barcelona head coach.