Xabi Alonso’s fresh links to the Chelsea job should have Liverpool concerned, as it could spoil their future managerial plans.
At time of writing, the links between Alonso and Chelsea are in their infancy, but the Spaniard is reportedly open to a Stamford Bridge move. This comes as pressure is mounting on Arne Slot at Liverpool.
As Jamie Carragher suggested on Monday Night Football, Liverpool could rue the decision to keep the Dutchman if their top replacement is taken off the table. And if he were to go to Chelsea, it could be the end of the notion of Alonso as Liverpool manager.
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Chelsea could ruin Xabi Alonso for Liverpool
Aside from a few hopeful months under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have been a catastrophe under BlueCo. Spending more than any club in world football, they are yet to assemble a side worthy of title contention.
Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Liam Rosenior have all experienced reputational damage after failing to clean up the mess at the Bridge.
With how the squad is looking, there’s little reason to believe Alonso could go in and fix everything.
He’s a top manager, but we saw the challenges he faced at Real Madrid, where things are similarly unstable.
This would be his first foray into the Premier League, and if he fails to do a good job, it could well deter Liverpool from bringing their former midfielder back to Merseyside.
There’s also a very relevant historical assessment which doesn’t help confidence.
Xabi Alonso could be the anti-Rafa Benitez
The inverse of this situation happened when Rafa Benitez joined Chelsea after a long and successful stint at Anfield.
The Spaniard was an incredibly unpopular hire for that very reason, and while it’s not the same situation here, it could evolve into that.
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Liverpool already have doubts about Alonso, and they could be exacerbated by flopping down in London.
Alternatively, he could do a fantastic job at Chelsea, win silverware — likely in direct competition with Liverpool — and get the Blues back on their perch. In that scenario, fans might sour to the former player the way Chelsea fans did with Benitez.
In either situation, the result is the same. Alonso joining Chelsea, successful or not, could easily put a future Liverpool move out of reach.
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