Chelsea told to avoid Premier League winning manager even if he becomes available

Jason Cundy has claimed Liverpool have ‘gone backwards’ under Arne Slot, and insisted he wouldn’t take him at Chelsea.

The Liverpool boss has seen his job come under pressure after a disappointing season which has seen his team launch a dismal defence of their Premier League title.

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The current picture

Speculation over Slot’s future has only intensified recently, after Reds legend Xabi Alonso emerged as a leading contender to become the next Chelsea manager.

Alonso, who was sacked by Real Madrid in January, has long been tipped for the Anfield job amid Slot’s continued struggles.

But with the Blues once again on the hunt for a new manager following Liam Rosenior‘s sacking, talkSPORT understands they have held talks with the Spaniard about taking charge at Stamford Bridge next season.

Sources with knowledge of the process have indicated that those discussions have been relatively positive and that Alonso is keen on managing in the Premier League.

This would appear to pour cold water over his Liverpool links, while Slot has since stated his belief he will remain in charge at Anfield.

Asked about the speculation around his future and if he could confirm he was staying, Slot said: “I don’t think I am deciding that myself alone.

“I have every reason to believe that I am the Liverpool manager next season.”

Don’t make it a Blue day

Slot’s update on his future sparked a discussion on The Sports Bar over his managerial credentials, with host Jason Cundy raising major doubts over the Dutchman’s ability to manage at the top level.

After storming to Premier League glory last year, this season Liverpool sit fourth and look set to qualify for the Champions League, but spent around £446million on signings in the summer.

Asked if he would take Slot at Chelsea, Cundy was adamant: “No, I don’t think I would. From what I’ve seen.”

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Co-host Jamie O’Hara then reminded Cundy of Slot’s Premier League glory in 2025, and then asked if he felt the Reds boss is a better manager than ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

To this, he replied: “You have to say yes, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to go: ‘Yes’, that I want him, does it? 

“Well. I mean, Maresca didn’t win the Premier League, Slot did. I think Slot’s got a bit lucky that he’s inherited [this squad].”

Cundy: Slot has been ‘lucky’

Slot succeeded iconic boss Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in 2024, and guided Liverpool to Premier League glory in his first season in charge.

Much of his title-winning side including a core of modern-day greats who had previously tasted league success under Klopp in 2020.

This includes Mohamed Salah, who fired in 30 league goals last year, as well as Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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But this season has been a different story, with the Reds struggling to match their previous standards, even after shelling out £446m in the summer on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

Only Ekitike has really justified his £79m fee, with £116m arrival Wirtz taking time to find his feet, while British record signing Isak has been held back after suffering a broken leg in December.

Cundy believes Slot benefitted massively from Klopp’s work in his first season, and we have now seen his true capabilities this year.

He continued: “Here’s the thing he was lucky with – most managers walk into a team or a new season because the manager’s been sacked and things have gone wrong. 

“That wasn’t the case with Liverpool. He walked into a settled squad, an unbelievable squad, an incredible team that had been built in the Klopp way.

“And I’m not saying he won it by luck, because you never win a Premier League season by luck. That’s not what I’m saying.

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“But I’ve seen Liverpool in that Premier League title. They were nowhere near the best Liverpool side I’ve ever seen.”

Cundy by warning Chelsea off Slot, insisting he would not be inheriting a complete side, with the Blues falling well off the boil in their bid for Champions League qualification.

He added: “Even the Klopp team that didn’t win the title [in 2019] were better than Slot’s, in my opinion. And they’ve gone backwards.

“I think he was quite fortunate. Whoever walked into that job was going to be so lucky that Klopp walked away when they were pretty much nearly on top.

“That’s not the case at Chelsea.”