With pressure intensifying on Arne Slot, Liverpool may soon be forced to consider Zinedine Zidane as a potential solution, as the Dutchman’s position becomes increasingly fragile following a run of nine defeats in 12 matches.
The 4–1 collapse to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on Wednesday marked the lowest point of Liverpool’s downturn, coming only days after a 3–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Instead of signs of recovery, Slot’s team appears to be sinking further.
What once looked like a brief dip in form has now spiralled into a full-blown crisis for a squad — and manager — who lifted the Premier League title just half a year ago. Slot now finds himself under real threat, a situation few would have imagined when the season began. And with mid-season managerial changes always complicated, Zidane, currently unattached, stands out as one of the few world-class options on the market.
The former Real Madrid manager has not worked since stepping down four years ago, but his reputation remains untarnished. Winning three consecutive Champions League titles has preserved his status as one of the elite coaches of modern football.
Some critics have claimed his success in Madrid was based more on man-management than tactical sophistication. But Jürgen Klopp, speaking before the 2018 Champions League final, strongly disagreed. He praised Zidane’s intelligence, structure, and adaptability:
“If people believe Zinedine Zidane doesn’t understand tactics — and think the same about me — that would be hilarious.
Two managers in a Champions League final with ‘no tactical knowledge’? What would that say about football?For me, Zidane is one of the greatest ever players, and he may win the Champions League for the third time — something unprecedented.
I have to admit he is just as brilliant a coach as he was a player. His team can be structured when needed, chaotic when needed — they play fantastic football.”
Replacing Slot mid-season would be a huge decision, but there is no denying that Zidane fits the profile of the kind of high-level appointment Liverpool would normally pursue. The largest obstacle remains his long-standing ambition to one day manage the French national team, a job he has openly targeted — especially with Didier Deschamps expected to leave after the upcoming World Cup.
Despite this, Zidane has never ruled out coaching in England. In a 2022 interview with L’Équipe, he said:
“Never say never. If I return to a club, it is to win. That’s said humbly, but conditions must be right.
To win, many factors matter. I know what I need.People ask if I’d go to Manchester — well, I understand English but don’t fully master it. Some coaches work without the language; I can’t. I need the right environment.”
Whether Zidane now feels more comfortable with English remains unclear. Still, the possibility of him being available only increases scrutiny on Slot.
The Liverpool manager acknowledges the pressure, admitting that performances must improve immediately to avoid a situation the club never expected to face.
“When a manager loses matches — especially as many as we have — the talk is normal,” he said.
“Whether it’s fair or not is for others to decide.But losing this many games is a shock for everyone: the players, the media, and for me. Nobody saw this coming with the quality we have.”
