There’s a sort of stunned, embarrassed silence around Anfield right now. You can feel it if you read the reports, listen to the fans, or watch the way players walk off the pitch: things aren’t right. Liverpool, champions very recently, are suddenly in the middle of their worst stretch of form since 1953. Nine wins in 12 games — that should still be good, in theory. But when expectations are sky-high and new signings were supposed to push the team forward, this kind of wobble looks worse than it probably is. Or maybe it isn’t — I’m not entirely sure. Either way, the board is thinking ahead. And that thinking includes a manager many would call “exceptional.”
A stopgap first, then a big name
The way I read it, Liverpool’s leadership is trying to buy time and cover every angle. They are not usually rash; this club tends to venerate its managers. Names get spoken of in hushed tones rather than in panic. So the idea that Arne Slot could stay — for now — feels believable. But they’re also preparing for the day when patience runs out.
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One plan being whispered about: bring Jurgen Klopp back as a short-term fix. Not forever — just until the season’s end, to steady things. Klopp is the safe, comforting choice. He knows the players, the dressing room, the culture, and he can pull people together in a way few others can. Would that be the ideal long-term answer? Probably not. Klopp has given Liverpool the glory years; expecting him to tuck in for another multi-year rebuild would be unfair to everyone involved. Still, in a crisis, familiarity is valuable. I can imagine the board thinking: better have a tried-and-true hand on the wheel while we decide what’s next.
Luis Enrique: the headline target
Now for the bigger, riskier move. Reports suggest Liverpool have their eyes on Paris Saint-Germain’s boss, Luis Enrique, as the long-term solution. That’s a bold choice, and it makes sense in multiple ways. Enrique has pedigree — he’s just guided PSG to their first Champions League, which is not trivial. He’s also known for a style that isn’t a million miles from what Klopp brought: high pressing, freedom for creative players, and a strong team ethic. People describe him as charismatic and authoritative, and that’s what Liverpool tends to value in a manager.
There’s a neat tale arc here — Klopp steadies the ship, then Enrique arrives to build again. But nothing is neat, of course. If you ask me, the idea of prying Enrique away from PSG is a stretch. He’s comfortable in Paris, runs a squad loaded with talent, and is almost guaranteed domestic success every season. Walking into a club under pressure, with the weight of expectation to return to the top immediately, would be a leap. He could do it. He might want the challenge. Or he might decide it isn’t worth leaving a near-certain platform of success for a precarious rebuild. I’m torn on how likely he is to say yes.
What this says about Slot
This moment is awkward for Arne Slot. He came in with big plans, and the summer transfer window suggested Liverpool were still spending for success — two record moves, lots of thought invested in squad upgrades. The expectation, fairly or not, was that Slot would be the man to take Klopp’s foundations and make them his own. Instead, the results are uneven. The new signings haven’t clicked as hoped, and the team’s form has been patchy.
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Now, being in your first big job at one of the world’s most scrutinised clubs is messy. Some players take time with new coaches; some systems take longer to embed. But when results dip at Liverpool, the noise grows fast. The board’s reputed contingency plan — Klopp as a short-term caretaker, followed by Enrique as the long-term answer — tells you two things. One: they still trust Slot enough to have thought through alternatives rather than immediately reacting. Two: they are ready to act if the situation deteriorates.
Player dynamics and the pressure cooker
One point that’s easy to miss: managers aren’t the only thing that shifts in these moments. Player buy-in, dressing-room dynamics, and transfer choices all matter. Slot’s challenge has been to manage elite personalities and expensive new signings who come with huge expectations. That’s not a small task — ask any coach who’s done it. When a club spends big, the margin for error shrinks. Fans are impatient, pundits sharpen their knives, and media narratives take on a life of their own.
If Klopp does return briefly, his job would likely be about calming that storm. Get the team to play with joy again, remind them what made them special, and steady the chemistry. If Enrique comes after, his task would be more structural: rebuild and reimagine without polarising the fanbase or repeating mistakes from the past — that’s a high bar, obviously.
Unfinished, but decisive questions
There are still big unknowns. Will the board actually sack Slot if the poor run continues? Will Klopp accept a short-term comeback, and if he does, will that be enough to reset things? And most significantly: will Luis Enrique be tempted to trade the relative comfort of PSG for the chaos and glory of Liverpool? I don’t have a crystal ball. I do know one thing, though — Liverpool’s next moves will tell you a lot about what kind of club they want to be: conservative and loyal, or bold and willing to take calculated risks.
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For now, it’s a tense waiting game. Fans and the club alike want clarity and results, and they want both yesterday. The story will likely unfold over the coming weeks. Whether that results in continuity or wholesale change remains open. I guess we just watch and wait.
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