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A respected journalist has revealed why Liverpool think Arne Slot is \u201ca better bet\u201d as head coach at Anfield than former midfielder Xabi Alonso.<\/p>\n
After looking like they were comfortably set to qualify for the Champions League a few weeks ago, Liverpool<\/strong> piled pressure on themselves by getting just one point from their last three Premier League fixtures.<\/p>\n Manchester City did Slot\u2019s side a favour on Tuesday night<\/strong> by scoring late on to take two points off Bournemouth, who now look very unlikely to pip Liverpool to fifth due to the Reds\u2019 superior goal difference.<\/p>\n Even if Liverpool lost and Bournemouth won on the final day, to level up their points tally, the Cherries would have to overturn a goal difference deficit of six goals which, although definitely not impossible, seems very unlikely.<\/p>\n Recent results have put pressure on Liverpool head coach Slot with recent reports claiming there is now more \u2018internal scrutiny\u2019 on the Dutchman<\/strong>as claims of Reds interest in Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola build.<\/p>\n Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah did not help Slot\u2019s cause last week by coming out after their 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Friday to complain about their recent form and the Dutchman\u2019s tactics.<\/p>\n READ: <\/span>Liverpool primed to boot out star who clapped Mo Salah social media post<\/strong><\/p>\n And former Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton thinks many Liverpool fans have now completely turned on the former Feyenoord boss.<\/p>\n Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live\u2019s Monday Night Club<\/em>: \u201cA lot of the Liverpool fans just are not having Arne Slot.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWith every passing week, every unsure performance and every defeat, supporters are thinking \u2018blimey, are we doing the wrong thing by keeping him on?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThen the Mo Salah stuff has poured petrol on the flames, on a difficult situation for Slot, and that really hasn\u2019t helped the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Slot has already faced rumours of potentially losing his job this season with Alonso\u2019s availability hanging over him in the last few months.<\/p>\n READ: Liverpool \u2018turn attention\u2019 to \u00a348m star as \u2018approved\u2019 deal for Salah successor faces collapse<\/strong><\/p>\n However, that was put to bed over the weekend when Chelsea appointed Alonso as their new head coach with the Spaniard starting his role on July 1.<\/p>\n And now The Observer<\/em> journalist Rory Smith has revealed why Liverpool did not act sooner to bring in Alonso, with the Reds feeling Slot is a \u201cbetter bet\u201d than their former midfielder.<\/p>\n Smith said: \u201cI think Liverpool think Slot is a better bet than Alonso, partly because they feel Alonso would go in with a power base as a beloved former player and I think there is some worry that might affect the model and give the manager too much power.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cEverything Liverpool are saying is that they believe Slot is the right man for next season. I think that is in total defiance of everything I know about football.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Slot, Maresca and more Premier League managers who won\u2019t survive the post-Pep 2026\/27 season<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\u2018Liverpool think Slot is a better bet than Alonso\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n