Liverpool midfield hero Xabi Alonso is ready to take over from Arne Slot

Liverpool got back to winning ways on Saturday night in the Premier League - defeating Newcastle 4-1 at Anfield.

It was the defending champions’ first top-flight win since December 27 - when Wolves were downed on Merseyside.

Between those two fixtures Arne Slot’s men had gone FIVE matches without a win - four draws and a defeat to Bournemouth seeing them slip out of the top four.

The Reds might have been expecting to lead the title chase once again - especially after spending £450m on new players last summer - but it hasn’t worked out that way.

Instead expectations have changed for the Dutch tactician and his charges - with qualification for the Champions League now seen as a bare minimum.

Champions League is the minimum expectation

It’s not going to be easy - with Aston Villa, Chelse and a recently resurgent Manchester United all in the frame for the top four.

And a report in Football Insider now warns Slot that unless he secures Champions League football the spectre of Xabi Alonso will loom large.

“As things stand right now Liverpool want to back Arne Slot, they want to give him at least until the end of the season,” a report reads.

“If they were to miss that in Champions League qualification, it will just increase pressure even more on Arne Slot.

“Unfortunately for Slot, he has got the shadow of Xabi Alonso hanging over him.”

Xabi Alonso looming over Arne Slot

“A lot of fans have a lot of support for Alonso too, so if things don’t improve at Liverpool you’re going to hear more and more talk about him taking over," the report continues.

“So it’s a key period for Slot now he really needs to build a bit of momentum get some results and as I said the minimum I think Liverpool would be expecting would be qualification for next season’s Champions League.”

Alonso has been out of work since his dismissal by Real Madrid last month. The ex-midfielder was previously considered for the Liverpool role - but at that stage could not be convinced to leave Bayer Leverkusen.

He is now available however and thought to be open to moving back to Merseyside should sporting director Richard Hughes opt to make a change in the dugout.

Right now the focus is on getting results for Arne Slot - who is under contract until 2027. After Man City at the weekend Liverpool’s Premier League fixture list eases somewhat - playing five teams currently in the bottom half of the table.

Hopefully that sequence brings some stability for Slot and his men - otherwise we could see the title-winning manager depart one year ahead of schedule.

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