Liverpool’s season is collapsing at speed – and Arne Slot now has a Champions League legend staring over his shoulder.
A 4–1 humiliation at home to PSV Eindhoven was Liverpool’s ninth defeat in 12 games, the latest in a run that’s turned early-season optimism into a full-scale crisis. The 3–0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest had already set alarm bells ringing. PSV simply smashed the glass and pulled the lever.
For a club that lifted the Premier League title just six months ago, the drop-off is staggering. Results aren’t just bad – they’re getting worse. The “blip” narrative has gone. This is something much deeper.
Zidane: the superstar option
In the background sits Zinedine Zidane – out of work, fully rested, and still one of the most attractive coaching names on the planet.
The Frenchman hasn’t managed since leaving Real Madrid for a second time four years ago, but his CV remains ridiculous:
- Three Champions League titles in a row
- Two La Liga titles
- A reputation for handling huge egos and big moments
Some critics have always tried to paint Zidane as more man-manager than tactician. Jurgen Klopp never bought that. Before the 2018 Champions League final, Klopp went out of his way to praise Zidane’s tactical brain, calling his Madrid side “fantastic” and pointing out how organised they were when needed – and chaotic in exactly the right moments.
In other words: Klopp gave Zidane the ultimate seal of approval long before this current mess.
The France job vs the Anfield pull
The big complication? Zidane has long been linked with the France national team job. Didier Deschamps is expected to step aside after this summer’s World Cup, and Zidane is widely seen as the natural successor.
But he hasn’t completely ruled out a club move – or even the Premier League. Speaking in 2022, Zidane’s line was “never say never,” while stressing he only returns to a club if he believes he can win. Language and environment matter to him, which is why he previously cooled on interest from clubs like Manchester United.
Liverpool, though, are different:
- A proven winning squad, even if badly underperforming
- A fanbase used to emotional leaders and big personalities
- A club that still sees itself at the very top table
If Zidane thinks the conditions are right and his English is up to scratch, Liverpool is exactly the kind of job that might tempt him.
Slot on the brink – and he knows it
Slot isn’t pretending everything’s fine. After the latest defeat, the Dutchman admitted the pressure is completely normal given the run they’re on. Losing “so many times,” as he put it, invites scrutiny at any club – never mind at Liverpool, where the standards were redefined under Klopp.
He called the situation a “shock” for everyone – players, media, even himself – given the quality he insists is still in the squad. But shocks don’t last this long. This is now a pattern, and patterns get managers sacked.
What happens next?
Liverpool are now stuck between two brutal realities:
- Sticking with Slot and hoping he somehow finds a miracle turnaround.
- Moving for a superstar replacement mid-season – with Zidane the obvious headline option, if he’s genuinely open to a club job before France comes calling.
Either way, the dynamic has changed. Zidane’s availability, Klopp’s historic praise and Liverpool’s current tailspin mean this is no longer just a story about bad form.
It’s become a story about who comes next. And right now, all roads – and all cameras – are pointing towards Zizou.
