Xabi Alonso is not the obvious upgrade on Arne Slot that many Liverpool fans believe him to be.
With Slot losing support, the debate around who should be in charge at Anfield next season is only growing louder. Alonso is now being linked with Chelsea, despite the widely held belief that he would one day love to manage his old club.
That has naturally caused frustration among fans who want FSG to act now. But Liverpool should not be too upset if Alonso does end up at Stamford Bridge, and there are a few reasons why.
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The biggest issue with Alonso is the comparison nobody really wants to make.
After winning the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24, Alonso’s side dropped from 90 points to 69 the following season. That is a 21-point decline after a historic title win.
Slot is facing a similar decline at Liverpool. He won the league, and is on course for a similar gap from last season.
The difference is that Liverpool have had to deal with major mitigating factors. There has been the emotional impact around Diogo Jota, the incessant injury problems, and a number of new signings not yet at the level.
Leverkusen, on the other hand, seemed to just revert to the mean. Those crazy late winners stopped coming and the team just lost that magical spark.
Alonso’s decline there does not mean he is a poor manager. Far from it. But it does show he is not immune to the same kind of post-title regression currently being used as an argument against Slot.
There is also the tactical question. Alonso and Slot are not identical coaches, but there are clear similarities in broad principles. Both want control through possession, structured build-up, central combinations and aggressive pressing.
Alonso’s Leverkusen were more wing-back focused, often building from a back three. Slot’s teams are more naturally associated with a back four and high front-foot pressing.
Still, it’s a gamble to assume his tactics would work better with the current squad.
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Sentimentality has to be removed from the conversation.
Alonso was a brilliant Liverpool player and may well become a brilliant Liverpool manager one day. But right now, his Anfield connection is probably inflating the idea that he is the clear solution.
If Liverpool are going to replace Slot, the next manager needs to be an obvious upgrade. Someone in the Luis Enrique category would fit that argument, although he looks set to stay at PSG for now. Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner would also deserve consideration for their Premier League pedigree.
Alonso should not be dismissed forever. He may yet build a watertight case for the Liverpool job.
But as things stand, letting Chelsea take the risk would not be the disaster some fans think it is.
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