Arne Slot sent Xabi Alonso WARNING

Arne Slot was appointed as Liverpool head coach back in summer 2024.

The Dutchman had just come off the back of a highly successful stint at Feyenoord with sporting director Richard Hughes making a pitch for his services.

Liverpool’s move to hire the 47-year-old paid off immediately in the form of a Premier League title victory at the first attempt. And the club backed their head coach with £450m worth of signings over the summer.

For a while it appeared that Slot and Liverpool could do no wrong - but the story has changed in recent weeks. The Reds have surrendered their Premier League title in meek fashion - currently languishing in 10th place.

Alonso considered by Liverpool

None of the new signings have been impressive - Hugo Ekitike aside - and Slot has been unable to get an improvement out of the players already on the books either.

Add to that a high-profile row with Mohamed Salah and you can be forgiven for thinking Slot’s position as head coach might soon come under threat.

He is contracted until 2027 but do not discount FSG making a change before then.

At the time that Slot was being considered for the position it appeared that the frontrunner was Xabi Alonso.

The Spaniard led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double back in 2023/24 and last year declared that he wanted to stay for another season regardless of Liverpool’s interest.

Xabi Alonso in danger already

Once a Liverpool midfield favourite, Alonso took on a big challenge last summer in joining another one of his former clubs in Real Madrid.

He got off to a great start but the Spanish capital side have fallen apart in recent weeks - leading to speculation that he too could lose his job.

And now a report has claimed that Liverpool’s hierarchy have installed Alonso as first choice to replace Slot in the event that he leaves.

“Alonso, who currently manages Real Madrid, is understood to be the priority target should the club decide to make a change,” a report in Caught Offside reads.

The Madrid boss has failed to win over his players with his new methods - and their season has hit rock bottom of late.

A defeat to Celta Vigo at home over the weekend saw increased pressure on the 44-year-old - who could be set to see his short, unhappy stint at the Bernabeu soon come to an end.

Liverpool will then have the opportunity to swoop in for a deal for Alonso - although do not rule out Steven Gerrard as an interim option to get the Anfield club to the end of the season.

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