He’s better than Alonso: Liverpool could hire “best young coach in Europe”

Let’s talk about Liverpool.

For anyone who’s chronically online, it is clear that dissent is rife across Liverpool circles, with so many fans itching for Arne Slot to be relieved of his duties in the dugout.

Football is fickle. Only one year ago, Slot sang with dulcet Dutch tones to Anfield, and Anfield sang back. It was an ode to Jurgen Klopp, whose seat was still warm but who had been spotlessly replaced by a shrewd and cool-headed coach, a Premier League champion in his first year.

Now, Slot is a far cry away from any end-of-season music, his Liverpool side abject throughout the campaign. Albeit Slot did hear the noise as the Reds stumbled against Chelsea and were held to a draw.

Maybe Anfield did sing, but it was a song of a different sort. Boos chorused around the stadium multiple times, notably when Rio Ngumoha, that rare source of excitement, was hooked after 67 minutes. And then again, louder now, the full-time whistle blown. Liverpool are getting fed up, and something needs to change.

Liverpool still sticking by Arne Slot

Chelsea’s growing interest in Xabi Alonso would tell you that FSG are still sticking by Slot.

Journalists in the know have banged this drum for several months, and if the Reds were serious about appointing the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager, who devoted a large chunk of his career to Anfield, it’s likely he would not be so curious about the Stamford Bridge vacancy.

Of course, Alonso would leap at the chance to lead Liverpool forward. The i Paper have revealed that he is stalling on Chelsea’s advances as he holds out for the opportunity to take over at Anfield.

Now, the ball really is in FSG’s court as they consider Slot’s future.

If the powers that be do decide to twist, they could move for Alonso, or they might turn to Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, with previous reports revealing that Liverpool have held talks with the coach’s representatives, and that he is willing to make the move to Merseyside.

The 38-year-old is in charge of the German national team, and he’s hardly likely to relinquish control of his homeland ahead of the imminent World Cup. However, if FSG are prudent – and they are often prudent to a fault – then he could link up with the Reds after the international tournament, should Slot be sacked.

Why Nagelsmann could be an upgrade on Alonso for Liverpool

Described as the “best young coach in Europe” by reporter Josh Bunting, Nagelsmann is a perfectionist and an exponent of the gegenpressing ideology that has woven its way into German football, Jurgen Klopp instrumental in that.

He’s not Klopp, though, instead a fresh-thinking manager who likes to combine verticality with flowing football, control through fast, forward possession.

If Nagelsmann is truly free, he could not only prove an uplifting upgrade on Slot, but an even better fit than Alonso, whose three-man defence and tilt toward total football makes him more of a mirror of Slot’s style than the Dutchman’s predecessor at Anfield.

Ultimately, Liverpool have made far too many mistakes this season, and someone of Nagelsmann’s ilk, a sharp tactician who has proved himself adaptable across his range of roles in his homeland, ending with Bayern Munich before ascending to the international stage, could finally turn things around.

Alonso could be that man, but he is inexperienced, albeit older than the German, and flattered to deceive at his last job in Madrid – though Los Blancos are in disarray, and that is not Alonso’s fault.

Nagelsmann has a “world-class” coaching ability, as journalist Rory Smith has noted, and though he is young, his accolades and reputation at the top of the managerial game has led him to command respect.

Nagelsmann has already established himself as an elite coach, and his playing style better aligns with the football that Liverpool fans want to see from their team.