Excusive: The inside story of how a Liverpool man appointed Xabi Alonso at Chelsea

Xabi Alonso is Chelsea's next manager.

It's going to take some getting used to for Liverpool fans. Once synonymous with the Reds, the position of Liverpool manager has eluded the Spaniard twice now.

First when Liverpool were in search of their Jurgen Klopp replacement and now amidst uncertainty surrounding the future of Arne Slot.

Both circumstances are different. Alonso didn't feel ready to make the step-up to Anfield the first time around, which is why the Reds never seriously considered him and made Slot their first choice from the shortlist of managers who were available.

This time around, Alonso's reputation has taken a hit with how things have transpired at Real Madrid, though subsequent turmoil at the Spanish giants would suggest Alonso was not necessarily the problem.

It's why Alonso has been adamant of stepping into a new challenge and he was ready to manage Liverpool.

However, Liverpool have been beaten to his signature having dawdled on sacking Slot, and with Chelsea making an aggressive pursuit for Alonso, who was consequently convinced by the project at Stamford Bridge.

So, how did this happen?

Anfield Watch understands the key person directing the Alonso operation at Chelsea was a former Liverpool man.

David Fallows spent 12 years as Liverpool's Head of Scouting before being appointed as Chelsea's sporting director earlier this season.

Fallows actually turned down the chance to be Liverpool's sporting director after Julian Ward left his position and he left the Reds when Michael Edwards returned and brought in a number of new personnel to the recruitment team, including Richard Hughes.

It is now Fallows who has undermined Hughes and Edwards by securing Alonso.

Fallows is described by a Chelsea source as the "most grown up of our hundred sporting directors so makes sense he’s going for the best choice available."

He played a key role in presenting Alonso with an ambitious project at Chelsea, and one that has thoroughly convinced the Spaniard he could make the Blues a great team again - just as he did at Bayer Leverkusen.

Fallows took advantage of Liverpool's hesitance over Alonso and Hughes' reluctance to sack Slot despite pressure from above, according to sources close to the situation.

Whether Alonso will have been Liverpool's first-choice if Slot was fired, is moot. Alonso wants control, hence his title being 'manager' at Chelsea and not 'head-coach' which is the current position of Slot.

He will have wanted more control at Liverpool. Something the current hierarchy are reluctant to accept given previous disagreements with Jurgen Klopp.

What happens now is going to be interesting to follow. From a Liverpool perspective, the Reds have seemingly lost the best possible candidate to replace Slot.

It's a huge blow. However, other possibilities remain. Liverpool will have a shortlist of managers they want to target if Slot was to be fired. The Reds' recruitment team monitor the performance of managers as well as players throughout the season so they will be aware of who could be Slot's successor.

Likely to be among these candidates are Andoni Iraola, Sebastian Hoeness and Julian Nagelsmann.

But for now, Liverpool are sticking with Slot. For how long, only time will tell. It could be months, weeks, or even days.

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