A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Stan Collymore raises his ‘concern’ about Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp and Jamie Carragher picks out their superior target.
Liverpool surprised Ruben Amorim by targeting Arne Slot to replace Jurgen Klopp
Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim firmly believed he was in the running to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. That is according to the Independent’s Miguel Delaney, who claims in his Reading The Game newsletter that Amorim found the Reds’ pursuit of Arne Slot unexpected.
Those close to Amorim also believed the 39-year-old was the leading candidate to take over at Liverpool this summer. But Anfield chiefs are prioritising their pursuit of Slot with Klopp in the final days of his tenure. The German is stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Amorim was also in the running to replace Xavi Hernandez at FC Barcelona before the Camp Nou team convinced the Spaniard to stay. The Sporting boss also felt he was the Blaugrana’s No1 candidate after Xavi announced his departure in January, only to now pull a full U-turn.
Read more about how Amorim has reacted to Liverpool’s pursuit of Slot, here.
Stan Collymore is ‘concerned’ that Arne Slot could replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
Stan Collymore has admitted that he is ‘concerned’ that Arne Slot may replace Jurgen Klopp as the manager of Liverpool. The Reds are in talks with Feyenoord for a deal to hire Slot with Klopp leaving Anfield this summer. Sky Sports also reports a complete agreement is close.
Talks between the Merseyside natives and Eredivisie outfit have progressed positively over a deal which could cost £10m. Slot emerged as Liverpool’s top target as Xabi Alonso chose to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. The Dutchman’s playing style also stood out in a rigorous search.
Slot’s character and his desire to replace Klopp has also helped the 45-year-old to emerge as Liverpool’s preferred managerial candidate. But ex-Reds striker Collymore feels his CV is not enough to get the job after winning the Eredivisie in 2022/23 and 2023/24 KNVB Beker.
“Is anyone else slightly concerned at the quality of the names being bandied around for Liverpool and Manchester United simultaneously?” Collymore told Caught Offside.
He added: “Slot doesn’t have the X-factor that Klopp brought with him into Liverpool, and of course he doesn’t have the trophy haul [Jose] Mourinho and [Pep] Guardiola had when they arrived in England. So, it’s a bit of a worry.”
Read more about what Collymore has had to say about Liverpool’s interest in Slot, here.
Jamie Carragher feels Liverpool should have targeted Thomas Tuchel over Arne Slot
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool should have given ‘more consideration’ to hiring Thomas Tuchel to replace Jurgen Klopp over Arne Slot. The Reds hero thinks the German would have been the superior target with the 50-year-old leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the term.
Der FCB confirmed that Tuchel had agreed to step down in February, despite taking over last March on a contract to June 2025. This term has seen Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen end Bayern Munich’s reign of terror in the Bundesliga, having won the previous 11 titles in a row.
Yet Carragher feels Tuchel would have been the perfect fit to replace Klopp having also done so at Borussia Dortmund in 2015. The German also even edged Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 2020/21 Champions League final in charge of Chelsea through Kai Havertz’s goal.
Carragher told The Telegraph “I would have given more thorough consideration to a coach like Thomas Tuchel, who took on and beat Pep Guardiola in the ultimate test – a Champions League final.
“Tuchel followed Klopp at Mainz [a year later] and Borussia Dortmund and did well. It has not worked out at Bayern Munich this season. But you only have to look at Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery to recognise how top coaches recover from setbacks.”
Read more about what Carragher has had to say about Liverpool and Tuchel, here.
