Maresca’s tenure at Stamford Bridge came to an abrupt end on New Year’s Day 2026, following an 18-month spell that included guiding Chelsea to Club World Cup glory the previous summer but ultimately unraveled due to a reported breakdown in relationships with senior figures, rotation disagreements, defensive woes, and a poor run of form.
The Blues parted ways “by mutual agreement,” with Liam Rosenior emerging as the heavy favorite (and reportedly already in advanced talks) to succeed him. Since then, Maresca—still highly regarded for his Pep Guardiola-inspired philosophy and previous promotion success with Leicester City—has been linked with a flurry of roles, including surprise approaches from former club Leicester (who contacted him about a potential return to the King Power Stadium on a short-term, incentive-based deal), Tottenham amid uncertainty over Thomas Frank, and even European giants like Real Madrid (where he rivaled Jurgen Klopp in discussions).
Now, fresh reports suggest Liverpool have reached out to the 45-year-old Italian in the wake of his Chelsea exit. While no official confirmation has emerged from the club, Anfield sources and transfer insiders indicate Maresca features on a contingency shortlist should the hierarchy decide to part ways with Slot at the end of the 2025-26 season—or sooner if results continue to falter. Slot, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title in his debut campaign, has faced growing scrutiny this term despite recent strong showings (like the 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle on January 31, 2026, where emotional moments from players like Ibrahima Konaté underscored squad unity). A series of draws and defensive vulnerabilities have fueled “sack watch” rumors, with some outlets claiming a contingency plan involving four potential successors is already in place. However, emphatic updates stress that Liverpool have no immediate intention of dismissing Slot—citing his title-winning pedigree, belief in his ability to turn things around, ongoing injuries, and long-term faith from the board and sporting director Richard Hughes.
Maresca’s name appearing in Liverpool links feels particularly intriguing given the Premier League landscape: he’s available, brings tactical nous from his time under Guardiola and at Leicester/Chelsea, and could represent a bold shift toward possession-based football if Slot’s pragmatic style hits prolonged turbulence. Yet, any move would likely spark fan debate—some view Maresca as a risky appointment due to his Chelsea fallout, while others see parallels with Slot’s own rapid rise from Feyenoord.
For now, Slot remains firmly in charge, actively strengthening the squad (as evidenced by the imminent arrival of Lutsharel Geertruida on loan) and praising player commitment post-Newcastle win. Liverpool’s hierarchy has publicly backed him through tougher patches, emphasizing no plans to follow Chelsea or Manchester United’s quick-trigger approach with Ruben Amorim. Whispers of Maresca contact add fuel to the fire in a season full of twists, but it’s far from a done deal—more a reflection of proactive planning amid title defense pressures.
Reds fans will watch closely: is this genuine groundwork for change, or just rumor mill noise? Either way, it underscores the relentless scrutiny on Anfield’s hot seat. If Slot steadies the ship, these links fade; if not, Maresca could emerge as a genuine contender. Football never sleeps
