In a surprise turn of events, beleaguered manager Steven Gerrard has reportedly been afforded a chance to salvage his position at Al-Ettifaq following urgent discussions among the club's hierarchy.

This comes in the wake of a troubling start to the season that has left fans and analysts questioning the future of the ex-Aston Villa and Rangers head coach.

The situation reached a critical point after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Al-Hilal just before the international break, which saw Al-Ettifaq plummet to 12th place in the Saudi Pro League standings.

The team, which includes high-profile players such as Moussa Dembele, Georgino Wijnaldum, and Scotland's Jack Hendry, has managed to secure only one victory in their last nine matches in all competitions, raising alarms about their performance and overall direction.

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Last week, Ibrox hero Ally McCoist said that Gerrard would be "welcomed back" as Rangers manager in the future. 

However, reports in the Middle East are stating that the former Scottish Premiership title-winning boss will be given another chance to turn their fortunes around. 

According to Saudi news outlet Al Yaum, club executives convened for crisis talks with Gerrard to assess the current predicament.

Despite the mounting pressure and unsatisfactory results, it appears that the club has opted against an immediate dismissal.

Sources indicate that Al-Ettifaq's management believes in Gerrard's potential to turn things around, stating that they "preferred not to sack Gerrard despite the unconvincing results and levels during the recent period."

Next up for Al-Ettifaq is an away league fixture against Al-Riyadh on Sunday, November 24.