Brad

Very good Brad.

Before that maybe: "Liverpool gamble on Slot"...sorry, I'll get my coat.

Image source, Getty Images

Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that he has been contacted by Bayern Munich as the German side search for a replacement to manager Thomas Tuchel.

Rangnick, 65, had a spell as Manchester United interim manager during the 2021-22 season.

Despite interest from Bayern, Rangnick says his only focus is on Euro 2024 with Austria.

"There has been contact from the side of Bayern Munich and I have informed the Austrian Football Association," Rangnick told Austrian website 90 Minuten.

"We have a very trusting relationship. My focus is on the Austrian national team. We are focusing completely on the European Championships."

"I feel very well here. At the moment there is no reason to intensively deal with this."

He added: "If Bayern say 'we want you'. And then I would also have to ask myself 'do I really want this?'. If I want to do something else I will first discuss it with the Austrian FA."

It certainly feels like that merry-go-round has started early, with clubs possibly trying to gazump their rivals before the chase is skewed by this summer's European Championships.

Austria manager Ralf Rangnick, formerly of Manchester United, has been asked about the stories linking him with the soon-to-be vacant hotseat at Bayern Munich.

His response was pretty forthcoming.

More to follow.

Image source, Getty Images

The end-of-season managerial merry-go-round will take on even more significance this summer with European superpowers Barcelona and Bayern Munich also looking for a new coach, along with Liverpool.

Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso was considered the hottest property on the market, before he pledged to stay with the newly crowned Bundesliga champions.

So sights turned to Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim, before today's news on Arne Slot.

Amorim, 39, has had a steadily increasing number of suitors forming a queue outside his door, which would suggest the chances of him remaining there for a fifth season are unlikely.

He still has work to do in Lisbon, though. With four games left to play, Sporting are seven points clear and within touching distance of his second Portuguese league title since he joined the club in March 2020.

It has been more than four decades since Sporting - with half the budget of Benfica or Porto - have won two league titles in four years.

Then there is the Portuguese Cup final against Porto on 26 May, where victory would earn Sporting their first league and cup double since 2001-02.

Up to now Amorim has said nothing to suggest he will be in situ at Anfield next season and, when the rumour mill hit feverish proportions, before the latest news on Slot, he angrily denied his arrival in Liverpool was a done deal.

Simon

Paul, LFC fan: Re Jack Cable - the worst thing we could do is try to find a like-for-like replacement for Jurgen Klopp - that would be ‘doing a United’. We need to find someone who can do it their way. Not many fans can say they trust their owners, but we are lucky. Other than the European Super League debacle, our owners have proved astute more times than not over the last nine years and I suspect they have done a tad more research than you or me, so if they say he fits the model I’m happy with that!

When it comes to style of play, there are some similarities between this iteration of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and Arne Slot's Feyenoord this season.

While the quality of their respective opponents needs to be taken into account, Slot's side have a very similar amount of possession, win a higher percentage of their games and score more goals per game.

Among teams in the top 10 European leagues, they rank fifth for goals per game.

Perhaps most encouraging for Liverpool fans who have enjoyed the high-octane style of Klopp, Slot's Feyenoord offer that too.

They are third out of 184 teams when it comes to winning back possession in the final third and fourth for high turnovers, ranking higher than Liverpool in both categories.

Image source, Opta

He seems to be the frontrunner to become the next Liverpool manager but how does Arne Slot's record compare to a few other contenders and Jurgen Klopp, the man he would be replacing?

Slot has managed fewer games than the others in this list but in terms of win percentage, his 61.8% is only better by Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.

Image source, Opta

Jack Cable

Anon

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If Liverpool do want to appoint Arne Slot to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager, they will have to negotiate a fee with Feyenoord.

The Dutchman, 45, does not have a release clause for this summer. There is one in his contract but it can’t be activated until next year.

That's all from Pep Guardiola so before we hear from Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, let's get back to someone the pair of them could be coming up against next season...

Arne Slot.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on whether it is right for Premier League clubs to question the integrity of match officials: "Absolutely disagree. There are always in every league, this will happen more and more but of course I never had doubts about that.

"The referees want to do the job as best as possible. They feel the pressure, we put pressure on them for the passion of the game for the moment, but when I sit here and reflect they try to do their best and are under scrutiny with the cameras there.

"They make a mistake, they feel bad. It's normal. When they do the job, they want to do it well. The game is so difficult, it is fast and quick, decisions have to be made in one instant. It's not easy."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on whether he plans to rotate his starting XI following Saturday's FA Cup semi-final: "I don't know what rotate means. Every player can play. Everyone has a contribution to make. We had three or four days since the last game so tomorrow is one of our toughest games of the season."

Manolis, Athens

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on whether he expects facing Roberto de Zerbi's Brighton will be easier than in previous seasons, considering their recent poor form: "Harder. My admiration is growing [for him] every season. They have had a lot of problems. Important players were sold. They have a lot of injuries and are playing in more competitions, but the way they play always they are there. He is doing an incredible job in Brighton."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on the title run-in and being in the final of the FA Cup again on the back of last season's Treble: "We have had a lot of problems with important players with injuries, but we are still there.

"We are in the final of the FA Cup, we made the latter stages of the Champions League and in the Premier League we are there.

"But you can arrive to the end like this and in one week lose all titles, but the team have behaved unbelievable this season again."

He added: "Every game is important now as every mistake and setback is difficult. But we have been here many times so we know what we are playing for."

Martin

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on was asked about the chances of Erling Haaland, John Stones and Phil Foden playing a part against Brighton.

"Erling Haaland is not ready for tomorrow - the other two they are ready."

He added: "[It's] not a big issue [for Haaland] but not allowed for this game."

Pep Guardiola has begun his news conference and he has confirmed that top-scorer Erling Haaland will not be available for the game at Brighton tomorrow.

In better news for City, both Phil Foden and John Stones are set to be involved.

We'll have more from Guardiola shortly.

On Saturday, Pep Guardiola was moaning about Manchester City having to back up a Wednesday's Champions League defeat by Real Madrid with a Saturday evening FA Cup final with Chelsea.

It does mean he benefits from four days off ahead of a crucial Premier League trip to Brighton, when City must respond to Arsenal's successive wins against Wolves and Chelsea.

An injury update on Erling Haaland is expected after the Norwegian missed the victory over Chelsea at Wembley, whilst Phil Foden did not train yesterday.