Arne Slot may well be coming up against his future employers on Sunday as Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
That’s according to Paul Merson, anyway, with the pundit suggesting – potentially with his tongue firmly in his cheek – that the Liverpool head coach will find himself in North London if he fails to guide the Reds into the Champions League places.
“I wouldn’t have thought if he’d win the FA Cup and doesn’t finish in the Champions League positions it would make any difference at all,” Merson told Sky Sports News on Saturday. “He will have to get in the top four, otherwise he’ll be Tottenham manager!”
Arne Slot thinks Tottenham will be a tough game because of their new manager, who has lost four games in a row! 😵💫
Slot can’t be serious, right? What’s your score prediction for the game… 🔮
But while the claim drew a “naughty boy” from presenter Simon Thomas, Slot was in talks to join Spurs in 2023. As they look for a new manager to lift them from an unprecedented slump, and his future at Liverpool comes under increasing scrutiny, could Slot really join Tottenham?
Slot could still be sacked by Liverpool
Although Slot ultimately turned Spurs down to focus on Feyenoord in 2023, the job will surely be attractive to him if he is relieved of his duties at Liverpool.
For now, the Liverpool owners are said to be fully behind the Dutchman, but it is hard to believe that that will remain the stance if things continue to spiral this season.
Slot’s future is likely to rest on how he performs in the FA Cup and Champions League. If the Reds exit both competitions at the next possible junctures, his exit will become far more likely.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
As Merson says, whether or not he finishes in the Champions League places will also play a huge part in the decision-making process, although it should be remembered that Jurgen Klopp took Liverpool into the Europa League in 2023, so there is a precedent there.
Klopp had much more credit in the bank than Slot, however, and there was always a feeling that with a few good signings here and there, Liverpool would be back where they belong. That is ultimately what happened.
With the football on offer continuing to rub supporters up the wrong way, there is likely to be less patience afforded to Slot, and rightfully so.
Spurs would be a perfect landing for Slot
Unless they are relegated to the Championship, it is easy to see how Tottenham would be an attractive next move for Slot if he is to leave Liverpool.
Despite their terrible form across two seasons in the Premier League, the North Londoners have shown that they still have the capability to perform in the Champions League.
There are top quality players littered throughout the squad, and Slot would likely back himself to get far more out of them than either Ange Postecoglou or Thomas Frank managed.
Who is your dream Liverpool manager in 2026/27?
Jurgen Klopp or Xabi Alonso? 🤤
After spending time away from his family – who have largely remained in the Netherlands – there is a possibility that Slot would want some time away from football to plot out his next step.
But with such a big Premier League job readily available, and with the hierarchy already showing that they would be interested in taking him on, it could be a chance that Slot would not want to miss.
Verdict: No surprise if Slot ends up at Tottenham
Slot has had an excellent record against Tottenham since joining Liverpool, winning four out of five matches against them, and scoring a bucketload of goals in the process.
And while Sunday’s match will likely add to that handsome run, it may also give the 47-year-old a chance to take a look at players who he could be managing in the near future.
The biggest question here is, of course, whether Slot stays in his job. Liverpool do not appear desperate to make a change, but the lingering spectre of Xabi Alonso cannot be ignored.
If he does go, then why wouldn’t Spurs be interested? If their own post is still vacant, it would be a huge boost for them to lure a Premier League-winning manager to the club.
Tottenham are far better than they are showing this season, and it would be no surprise to see Slot arrive and succeed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if the axe does swing for him at Liverpool.