Steven Gerrard has been instructed to prepare for a potential call from Liverpool after the Reds’ struggles under Arne Slot continued following a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland
Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter and Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
08:00, 04 Dec 2025
Steven Gerrard.(Image: PA)
Steven Gerrard has been advised the Liverpool job may not be the right fit for him, although one former adversary believes he could be set to receive a call. The current Premier League champions have had a dreadful time defending their title, losing six of their last eight top-flight matches.
Despite returning to winning form on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over West Ham, Arne Slot’s team struggled to inspire again in a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland 72 hours later. Faith in Slot hit rock bottom following Liverpool’s 4-1 home loss to PSV in the Champions League, with fans audibly jeering the team at the end of the European encounter.
In the midst of Liverpool’s dismal run of results, there has been rampant speculation about a potential successor for Slot. And Gerrard has been named as one of the possible contenders for the top job at the club where he spent the vast majority of his career.
READ MORE: Arne Slot laments lack of Liverpool ‘magic’ as he hints at reason for Mohamed Salah decisionREAD MORE: Liverpool’s next five fixtures compared to Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd after Sunderland draw
A return to his old stomping ground would make for a fantastic narrative for a player who rose through the ranks and became one of the club’s all-time greats. But it might not be the wisest decision, according to former team-mate Jamie Carragher.
During The Overlap Fan Debate, the Reds legend was asked if rumours of Gerrard taking the reins at Anfield were true, to which he responded: “No, I wouldn’t imagine. He’s been a manager at Villa and had great success at Rangers as well.
“He’s a legendary figure and he’s back, floating down Liverpool. I don’t think most Liverpool fans will be screaming for Steven Gerrard – everyone is desperate for it to work for Arne Slot. They’re on such a bad run, the flipside of that is then how long does it carry on?”
(Image: Getty Images)
Carragher’s views were echoed by another former team-mate, Emile Heskey, who recently asserted Gerrard requires more managerial experience before taking on a role as significant as Liverpool. Speaking via BetBrain, the ex-England striker said: “He needs more experience.
“He definitely needs more experience because you’re going into the biggest job, or one of the biggest jobs in the world, the scrutiny of everything you do or say or what the players do comes back on you.
“He’ll need a lot more experience to jump into that hot seat to be honest. He’ll get linked to jobs, he’ll get asked to come in and interview for jobs, it’s up to him what he actually wants to do.”
Despite Carragher and Heskey’s opinions, it was Rio Ferdinand who advised Gerrard to be ready for a call from Liverpool should their poor form persist. The Manchester United legend, who had many clashes with Gerrard as players, suggested fan pressure could lead to the former Reds captain being appointed Slot’s successor.
(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
“I was in Qatar over the last few days with Steven Gerrard,” he said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast following their visit to the Qatar Grand Prix. “I was saying to him over some food the other day, ‘Listen, you need to sharpen your tools mate.
“Sharpen your tools, get them ready, because you could be going back in as interim boss’. There are so many games coming up that I was thinking I don’t see Slot getting through all of them in good enough condition, and I think the pressure from the terraces and the fan base might get too much and they might make a decision.
“In that climate, with someone like Steven Gerrard sitting there, a legend of the club – forget his tenures at different clubs. There’s a legend of the football club ready to come in and just steady the ship for them. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Steven Gerrard had gotten a call.”
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