Jamie Carragher has one piece of advice for Liverpool fans: mark Germany vs Netherlands in your calendar. With Jurgen Klopp closing in on the Germany job and Arne Slot heavily linked with the Netherlands vacancy, two men who defined Anfield's recent era could be facing each other on the international stage as early as next year.
"Looks like Jurgen Klopp is going to get the German job and I think there is a fixture early next year between Germany and Holland," Carragher said on Sky Sports. "That might be something to keep an eye on."
That's not a throwaway line. It's a genuinely compelling managerial subplot — the man who built Liverpool's Premier League dynasty against the man who won the title in his first season taking it over.
Two jobs, one deadline
Klopp has been out of management since leaving Liverpool in 2024, spending time as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer. He was courtside — or rather pitchside — as a pundit during Germany's World Cup, watching Julian Nagelsmann's side exit early. Now reports suggest he's set to take the permanent role replacing Nagelsmann.
Slot's situation is different. He was sacked by Liverpool after a disappointing title defence and is now being courted by a Netherlands side in disarray after Ronald Koeman resigned following a round-of-32 exit to Morocco. Dutch outlet De Telegraaf reports that taking the Holland job wouldn't cost Slot his Liverpool severance — a package reportedly worth up to €30 million — with the Reds potentially even topping up his salary in year one to reduce their long-term liability. Financially, the move makes sense for everyone.
Carragher's endorsement of Slot carries weight. "He had the courage to take over from Jurgen Klopp so I'll never forget what he did, it was absolutely fantastic," he said. Coming in after Klopp wasn't a soft landing — it was one of the most pressure-loaded managerial transitions in Premier League history. Slot won the title anyway.
What it means for the betting markets
If both appointments go through, the Nations League and any pre-tournament friendlies involving Germany and Netherlands immediately become appointments to watch. Two tacticians who know each other's methods well, managing nations that have underperformed their resources — the tactical matchup will be sharp, and the line for any Germany-Netherlands fixture will need to account for two genuinely elite coaches.
Slot's farewell letter to Liverpool supporters closed with a reminder that he "leave with complete confidence in what lies ahead." Given what he's walking into, that confidence will be tested quickly. The Dutch fanbase expects more than competent management — they want a return to relevance on the world stage.
Klopp's challenge is similar but starker. Germany exited the World Cup early under Nagelsmann. Getting them competitive again before the next major tournament is a short runway.
Two Liverpool men. Two wounded football nations. One early-2026 fixture that just became very interesting.
