Football League chairman shares what Liverpool staff member must do soon to get Xabi Alonso to sign

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Liverpool face a tense few months as they find out whether or not they’ll be able to hire Xabi Alonso.

Alonso is currently seen to be the Reds’ first choice to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager at the end of the season. But with Bayern Munich also determined to land their former player, a battle is set to take place.

According to Peterborough United chairman and Liverpool fan Darragh MacAnthony, it’s a fight that the Reds simply can’t afford to lose. Speaking on his The Hard Truth podcast, MacAnthony says that it would be a ‘big mistake’ for Liverpool to let Bayern win this one.

“If Liverpool have snoozed on that one they will have made a big mistake,” says the chairman. “With all due respect to Bayern Munich, Liverpool is a bigger club.

“What is Xabi Alonso going to do? He’s going to win where he is at the moment. Then he is going to go to Bayern where he is expected to win the title every year. This is Liverpool we are talking about. I know Bayern are a massive club but it’s not Liverpool.

“Liverpool don’t need to be asleep at the wheel on that. Somebody needs to go and sit with him and say you’re our guy. Maybe he doesn’t want to follow Klopp, maybe it’s easier following Tuchel because he’s failing but he seems to be the best of the next breed.”

Liverpool urged to ramp up Alonso fight

We don’t always agree with MacAnthony and his views on Liverpool. He seems determined to push a move for Ivan Toney that simply isn’t going to happen, for example.

But on this occasion, he makes a good case. Liverpool have had since November to plan internally for Klopp’s exit. They should have been straight on the phone to Alonso as soon as the German handed in his notice.

Bayern on the other hand have only just decided to part ways with Thomas Tuchel. They should be the ones playing catch up.

Of course, you can never say for sure what a player or manager will decide when there are two clubs battling for him. Especially when it’s two sides as big as Bayern and Liverpool.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that Alonso would favour a move back to Merseyside just now. Recent reports have claimed that to be the case, too. But it would be unwise to dismiss the pull of the giant in Munich.

That Liverpool have had longer to put their case across might end up meaning nothing at all.

Perhaps Alonso’s family are settled in Germany for example and don’t want to move again. Having already made his mark on the Bundesliga maybe Xabi now wants to spend some time hammering that home. Who knows.

If Liverpool do lose this fight, it shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a failure by the club. The final decision will rest with Alonso himself and as a strong-willed and thoughtful character, maybe the Reds simply can’t sway him.

Besides, there are good alternatives like Ruben Amorim if Liverpool have to look elsewhere. Obviously Alonso remains the top choice, but he shouldn’t be the only name on the list.