De Zerbi Faces Liverpool Test As Managerial Rumors Swirl

As anticipation builds for tonight’s Champions League clash between Marseille and Liverpool, all eyes are on Roberto De Zerbi—the Italian manager whose high-octane methods have transformed the French side into one of Europe’s most unpredictable threats. The encounter at the Velodrome isn’t just a pivotal moment for both clubs’ European ambitions; it’s also casting a spotlight on De Zerbi’s surging reputation and the managerial turmoil swirling around some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

De Zerbi’s name has become a fixture in the rumor mill, with his exploits at Marseille turning heads from Merseyside to Manchester. Just 18 months after leaving Brighton for the south of France, the 46-year-old has not only revived the fortunes of Les Phoceens but has also built a reputation for extracting the best from players previously dismissed as past their prime or problematic. With Liverpool’s current boss Arne Slot under mounting scrutiny and Manchester United searching for a permanent successor after parting ways with Ruben Amorim, De Zerbi’s stock has never been higher.

For Liverpool, the stakes are clear. The Reds, who clinched the Premier League title last season, now find themselves 14 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and languishing in fourth place. Their Champions League campaign has also stuttered—they sit 11th in the league phase table. Despite an undefeated run stretching back to November 26, 2025, the mood at Anfield is far from celebratory. Six draws in their last 12 matches have fueled criticism, with fans and pundits alike questioning whether Slot is the man to restore the club’s former intensity and drive.

That sense of urgency has prompted speculation about Slot’s future, with several high-profile names—Xabi Alonso and even Steven Gerrard—tipped as possible successors. But former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino, speaking on talkSPORT, didn’t mince words about who he thinks is the ideal candidate. “I want Arne Slot to try and turn this season around,” Cascarino said. “They’re fourth but they’ve not played anywhere near like last year. I want him to try and turn things around in Europe too...but if there was ever a vacancy and De Zerbi was available, I’d know what I would want to do if I was Liverpool.”

Cascarino’s praise for De Zerbi was effusive, citing the Italian’s knack for overachieving with limited resources. “That would be one manager I would certainly look at because he hasn’t had the funds and transfer ability to buy some of the best players in Europe and he overachieves with his teams. That’s what he did with Brighton and he’s doing it with Marseille. There will be clubs that will look at him, Marseille are third at the moment and this season have drawn with PSG twice. There has been lots of good signs of improvement from the club.”

De Zerbi’s impact at Marseille has been nothing short of remarkable. Since taking the reins in June 2024, he’s overseen 63 matches, winning 37 and losing just 19. His side’s aggressive, high-intensity style has drawn comparisons to Jurgen Klopp’s best Liverpool teams. “De Zerbi is very Klopp-like, the way he sets up his team, the way they play,” Cascarino explained. “Everything about them is to get goals. You think that [he’s doing that] with players like Hojbjerg from Tottenham, Angel Gomes from Man United, Emerson from Chelsea and West Ham and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.”

Indeed, De Zerbi’s ability to rejuvenate careers and foster a combative team spirit has been central to Marseille’s resurgence. Mason Greenwood, whose arrival at the Velodrome was met with controversy due to past allegations that were later dropped, has flourished—netting an astonishing 42 goals in 62 appearances for the club. Yet, his relationship with De Zerbi is reportedly a rollercoaster, with the coach alternating between lauding Greenwood as a “world-class talent” and publicly criticizing his work rate after lackluster performances.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another player who’s found new life under De Zerbi. Written off after a difficult spell at Chelsea, the Gabonese striker has contributed 11 goal involvements in 16 games this season, proving a valuable asset in the Marseille attack. Aubameyang’s experience could be crucial against a Liverpool side that, according to Cascarino, “haven’t had enough intensity this year, which they experienced under Klopp and in certain periods of last season. They’ve lost it a bit this season, they can be flat at times, they can be a little bit more slower from midfield into the forwards and they’ve had a huge number of injuries.”

Not every Marseille player has thrived under De Zerbi’s demanding regime. Angel Gomes, once tipped for stardom after a promising spell at Lille and a call-up to the England senior team, has struggled to make an impact since joining Marseille last summer. Reports suggest that Gomes’s relationship with De Zerbi has soured, and the club is actively seeking to move him on this January. The midfield has instead been anchored by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the former Spurs stalwart, who now serves as De Zerbi’s vice-captain, while Brighton loanee Matt O’Reilly fills another key role.

Marseille’s training ground, as described by The Athletic, is “electric but exhausting,” with double sessions the norm and De Zerbi’s fiery personality on full display. A minor positional error can trigger an explosive rebuke, but this intensity appears to have won over most of the squad, creating a sense of unity and resilience that’s translated to the pitch.

Tonight’s match promises to be a stern test for Liverpool—not just because of Marseille’s tactical prowess, but also due to the notorious atmosphere at the Velodrome. Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, now at Monaco, recounted his experience to beIN Sports: “The atmosphere there was really something I haven’t experienced before. It was absolutely crazy. It was just like going into a zombie apocalypse. It was something I haven’t seen before. I’ve played in hostile grounds in England, but for sure Marseille away for me was a very crazy game.”

With Marseille boasting eight wins, two draws, and just two defeats at home this season, the Reds will need to rediscover their trademark intensity to come away with a result. The match kicks off at 8pm local time, with live commentary on talkSPORT from Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Stuart Pearce. Fans can tune in via the talkSPORT app, DAB digital radio, or traditional AM frequencies.

As the managerial carousel spins, De Zerbi’s name remains at the forefront of speculation—not just for Liverpool, but for Manchester United as well. The BBC reported this week that United, having appointed Michael Carrick as interim head coach, have placed De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel at the top of their shortlist for the permanent role, with Niko Kovac also in the frame. For now, though, De Zerbi’s focus is firmly on Marseille’s European adventure and the formidable challenge of Liverpool under the floodlights.

With so much at stake and so many storylines converging, tonight’s showdown at the Velodrome is set to be a defining moment for both clubs—and perhaps for the future of one of Europe’s most sought-after managers.