Arne Slot’s Liverpool are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions – but might this now be the primary time that the Dutchman is seriously looking over his shoulder?
Slot enjoyed a fairytale first season at Anfield, guiding Liverpool to their second Premier League title in emphatic fashion.
But a terrible run of form through the autumn, which yielded only one league win in seven matches, saw their title defence go up in flames and almost cost Slot his job.
To his credit, the 47-year-old has steadied the ship since then, guiding his side back into the highest 4 despite a slew of injuries and a public falling out with star player Mohamed Salah.
Nevertheless, the incumbent Liverpool boss might now should take care of fresh speculation over his long-term future on the helm within the wake of Xabi Alonso’s departure from Real Madrid on Monday.
The Spaniard lasted just seven months at Real, relieved from his duties after a Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona, despite his side sitting second in La Liga and contained in the Champions League top eight.
Alonso’s failed stint within the Spanish capital is much from his fault alone. He actually won’t be the last promising player or coach to be chewed up and spat out by Florentino Perez and the Madridista machine.
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Despite his swift dismissal, early reports suggest that several top European clubs have already had their ears pricked up by Alonso’s sudden availability.
His impressive spell at Bayer Leverkusen, which saw the German side go unbeaten to win their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2024, saw Liverpool make a move for Alonso, courting the Spaniard as a possible successor to Jurgen Klopp after his surprise exit.
Alonso ultimately turned down the role, wanting to proceed his development in Germany, but that answer is likely to be different now if Liverpool were to come back calling again as reports suggest they may.
‘Xabi had a clause in his contract at Leverkusen that he could discuss with a whole lot of his old, ex-teams, that he played for – and Manchester City,’ former Red Steve McManaman said on TNT Sports.
‘That was public knowledge. So there have to be a desire for him, in his mind, that he would really like to administer here.’
‘Liverpool will only get one probability to appoint Alonso’
Fast-tracking Alonso’s return to Anfield, where he spent five successful seasons as a player, could also be alluring for the club’s senior officials, but it surely’s a move that clearly comes with its risks.
Alonso’s hypothetical arrival at Liverpool would see him reunited with two former Leverkusen players – Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz – but there is no such thing as a guarantee the Spaniard would replicate the successes he had in Germany.
The Liverpool job is just not quite the pressure-cooker environment which Alonso endured at Real, but it surely’s also fair to query whether his time on the Bernabeu was indicative of a young manager who may not yet be ready for the most important managerial posts in European club football.
And despite their eye-watering spending in the summertime, Liverpool’s squad continues to be removed from the finished article, particularly on the back.
Ibrahima Konate looks set to depart when his contract expires in the summertime, while Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will each have just 12 months left on their respective deals come the top of this season.
Perhaps, subsequently, restocking their defensive options is likely to be the sensible priority as a substitute of a change on the helm.
There could also be an emotional tie which attracts Liverpool towards Alonso, but those on Merseyside only need to take a look at their arch rivals, Manchester United, to see how an obsession with nostalgia can lock a club in a perpetual cycle of paralysis.
Michael Carrick currently looks set to interchange Ruben Amorim because the Red Devils’ interim boss. That’s the identical Carrick let go by Middlesbrough over the summer, having failed to attain promotion from the Championship after nearly three full seasons in charge.
Alonso’s managerial CV is actually more impressive than that of Carrick, but his ties to Liverpool shouldn’t be the rationale alone to rush him into the role this early in his profession.
Frank Lampard’s stint at Chelsea is a cautionary tale in that regard, and the Englishman has now needed to drop all the way down to the Championship to rebuild his managerial stock after being thrown the keys to Stamford Bridge far too early in his coaching journey.
Similarly, the clamour for Steven Gerrard to be Liverpool’s next great manager felt like a suffocating burden on the previous Reds captain during his spells at Rangers and Aston Villa. No one is seriously considering him as Slot’s potential successor at this point.
Alonso could well get the job, deliver on his talent, and turn out to be as great a manager for Liverpool as he was a player.
However the Reds will only get one probability to appoint Alonso, and at this stage of his profession, and after falling in need of expectations at Madrid, perhaps the pinnacle should win out over the guts.
Would appointing Xabi Alonso be a great move for Liverpool?
Yes – it could be a great fit
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