Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has had his say on the managerial situation at Anfield with Arne Slot under pressure
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso(Image: Ismael Adnan Yaqoob/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Danny Murphy believes Luis Enrique and not Xabi Alonso should be the man to replace Arne Slot should Liverpool decide to make a change in the dugout.
The Reds have shown no indication of wanting to part ways with Slot after a difficult defence of the Premier League title he guided them to in dominant fashion last season.
However, that hasn’t stopped speculation ramping up over a possible managerial switch despite Liverpool being on course to salvage Champions League qualification.
Alonso has been linked with replacing Slot ever since being sacked as Real Madrid boss earlier this year after a failed brief tenure in charge at the Bernabeu.
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But former Liverpool midfielder Murphy believes Enrique would be the perfect fit for Anfield should he decide to take on a fresh challenge after Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
“For me, there is one outstanding candidate – Luis Enrique,” said Murphy. “Could Liverpool maybe tempt him, especially if he wins the Champions League again? Maybe he would feel like he needs a new challenge.
“He is a phenomenal coach and when you watch PSG play, you kind of feel that is how I want my team to play.
“I am torn, just like a lot of Liverpool fans are. A part of me does feel like Arne Slot deserves the chance to redeem himself after his brilliant first season. The circumstances he has had to deal with this season have been tough in many ways.
“But if there is somebody out there who feels they can move the team more forward quickly, then yes, make the change. The biggest thing is that I have very rarely seen a Liverpool fanbase, a majority of the fanbase, turn on a manager quite so quickly through a bad spell.”
Speaking to Betarades.gr, Murphy added: “Xabi Alonso is an outstanding new manager and he has that connection with the Liverpool fans, which always helps from an emotional point of view. There has been a lot of talk recently about the manager’s connection with the fans – or maybe lack of connection.
“The only thing with Xabi Alonso is that he primarily is a possession based manager, just like Arne Slot to a degree. I think Liverpool fans, at least from what we know, want a more risky, high energy and all in type of football.
“But he is a super, young coach so it wouldn’t surprise me if we see him as a Liverpool manager at some point.
“My gut feeling is that it would be a risk but every manager is a risk, especially when you are trying to compete with Manchester City and Arsenal. There is no guarantee.”
