In a development that has sent shockwaves through the Premier League, Liverpool FC is reportedly preparing to make a audacious move for Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag as early as this week. Sources close to Anfield suggest the club is accelerating plans to part ways with current head coach Arne Slot following a dismal run of form, with the Dutchman’s position described as “untenable” after yet another humiliating defeat. This seismic shift comes just months after Slot guided the Reds to their record-equaling 20th Premier League title last season, highlighting the ruthless nature of elite football management.

The catalyst for this potential upheaval was Liverpool’s 4-1 thrashing at home to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night—a result that has left the club teetering on the brink of a full-blown crisis. What began as a promising equalizer from Dominik Szoboszlai quickly unraveled into a defensive masterclass of errors: Virgil van Dijk’s early penalty conceded for handball, Ibrahima Konaté’s wild air-shot leading to PSV’s third goal, and a collective fragility that has become all too familiar. Nine defeats in Liverpool’s last 12 matches across all competitions have plunged them to 11th in the Premier League table, 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, and outside the automatic qualification spots in the Champions League group stage.

The PSV loss, in particular, stung deep. Played in front of a stunned Anfield crowd, it echoed the Reds’ earlier 3-0 capitulation to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest—a match where even talismanic forward Mohamed Salah cut a frustrated figure, his legs reportedly “gone” according to club legend Jamie Carragher. “Liverpool isn’t a sacking club. The manager is the king. You stick with the manager,” Carragher fumed on Sky Sports, directing his ire squarely at the players. “I’m angry with the players. Van Dijk is a normal CB like I was.” Yet, behind the scenes, the pressure on Slot has intensified, with reports of an “emergency meeting” convened by sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive Michael Edwards as early as Thursday to deliberate his future.

This isn’t mere speculation. Whispers from within the Liverpool hierarchy indicate a readiness to “rip up the initial plan” and make tough calls, with the urgency “cannot be overstated.” Slot himself, in a post-match press conference laced with defiance, insisted he retains the full backing of the board: “I have the support of the club, and that’s what matters.” But actions speak louder than words. The Athletic reports that while Liverpool aren’t historically trigger-happy—having stood by Jürgen Klopp through lean spells—the current “horror run” has eroded that patience. Slot’s inability to adapt tactics, particularly against long-ball threats and set-pieces, has been laid bare, with Dutch media even rubbing salt in the wounds by labeling him “traumatized” on his home turf.

Enter Erik ten Hag: the unlikely savior from across the divide. The 55-year-old Dutch tactician, recently sacked by Manchester United after a trophyless stint marred by inconsistent results, has suddenly emerged as Liverpool’s top target. According to viral rumors circulating on social media—amplified by accounts like MatchDay Central and indykaila News—Anfield officials plan to contact ten Hag’s entourage “in the coming days” to discuss the vacant head coach role. “Liverpool will make contact with Erik ten Hag for next head coach role… as Liverpool is planning to sack Arne Slot,” one widely shared post claimed, garnering thousands of views and sparking fervent debate among fans.

Why ten Hag? On paper, it’s a head-scratcher—a move that would delight rival supporters and baffle Liverpool’s faithful, given his Old Trafford baggage. Yet, beneath the rivalry, there’s method to the madness. Ten Hag’s Ajax pedigree, where he orchestrated a Champions League semi-final run with a possession-based, high-pressing style, aligns eerily well with Liverpool’s DNA under Klopp and Slot. His track record of blending youth with experience—think integrating talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo at United—could reinvigorate a squad featuring stars like Salah, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike, all summer acquisitions now underperforming. Moreover, as a fellow Dutchman, ten Hag could provide a seamless cultural transition from Slot, minimizing disruption during a fraught mid-season change.

Social media is ablaze with reactions. One fan quipped, “Mentoring Arne Slot to make way for Ten Hag? That’s a plot twist nobody saw coming.” Another pondered, “If Liverpool decide to end Slot’s cycle, names like Ange Postecoglou, Xavi Hernández, Erik ten Hag, [and] Steven Gerrard” could enter the fray. Betting markets have already shifted dramatically: Slot is now second-favorite to be the next Premier League manager axed (behind only Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola), while ten Hag’s odds to take the Anfield helm have plummeted to 5/1, per bookmakers like Betfair. Other contenders trail: Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner (the “shock favorite” after his FA Cup triumph) at 3/1, followed by Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou and a sentimental Steven Gerrard return at 8/1.

For Liverpool, the financial implications are stark. Slot’s contract, inked last summer, includes a hefty severance clause—rumored at £10 million—compounded by the £9.4 million fee paid to Feyenoord for his services. Sacking him mid-season would also disrupt a squad assembled at great expense: over £200 million spent in the transfer window on Wirtz (£100m+), Isak (£60m), and Ekitike (£50m), only for the team to look “broken,” as The Athletic described post-PSV. Yet, the board’s calculus is clear: inaction risks missing Champions League qualification altogether, a catastrophe for a club that prides itself on European pedigree.

Slot’s downfall, if it comes, would be swift and poignant. Arriving as Klopp’s handpicked successor in June 2024, he dazzled in his debut campaign, clinching the title with four games to spare and earning LMA Manager of the Year honors. The EFL Cup final loss to Newcastle was a blemish, but few foresaw this nosedive. Critics point to stubborn tactics—no deviations despite glaring weaknesses—and a failure to harness the squad’s firepower. “Things weren’t right at the start of the season either, when they were winning,” former Reds defender Stephen Warnock noted, urging against knee-jerk reactions. Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman echoed this, insisting it’s “too early” for the boot, but the momentum feels irreversible.

Should ten Hag sign on the dotted line, his first task would be Herculean: rallying a dressing room rife with discontent. Carragher’s call to bench Salah, Wayne Rooney’s plea to drop the Egyptian entirely, and Curtis Jones’ rallying cry to “go and smash someone” underscore the rot. Upcoming fixtures—tricky away trips to Inter Milan and Marseille in the Champions League, plus a Premier League clash with West Ham—offer no respite. A loss to the Hammers, as one insider warned, could seal Slot’s fate before December dawns.

This saga transcends mere managerial musical chairs; it’s a referendum on Liverpool’s post-Klopp identity. The German’s shadow looms large, his 2015 appointment a masterstroke that yielded a Champions League and Premier League double. Slot was meant to be the evolution, not the interlude. Now, with ten Hag—a coach who once symbolized United’s resurgence—as the potential bridge, Anfield faithful are left grappling with irony. Could the man who haunted their derby dreams become their redemption?

As Edwards and Hughes deliberate in smoke-filled rooms (metaphorically, of course), one thing is certain: Liverpool’s next appointment won’t just fill a vacancy; it’ll redefine a dynasty. Will ten Hag, with his blend of discipline and flair, ignite the spark? Or is this just the latest fever dream in a season gone awry? By week’s end, we may have our answer—and the Premier League, a rivalry reborn in the most unexpected way.