Liverpool face new Xabi Alonso threat as Premier League rivals make move
Xabi Alonso has been linked with replacing Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach should the Reds eventually make a chance in the dugout, but Chelsea now look to be in the conversation
Xabi Alonso has emerged as a managerial candidate for Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Chelsea(Image: (Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images))
Liverpool could face competition from Chelsea if they ultimately decide to try and appoint Xabi Alonso as head coach. The club’s former midfielder has been strongly linked to an Anfield return if Arne Slot leaves this summer, though Chelsea are now in the hunt for a new permanent head coach having sacked Liam Rosenior.
Andoni Iraola, who is leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season, quickly emerged as the top candidate. Since then, checks have also since been made on Alonso and Fulham boss Marco Silva, according to The Liverpool Echo’s sister-title, football.london.
The report states that he is firmly on Chelsea’s radar, with the Spaniard having been out of the game since being sacked by Real Madrid in January. Following the departure of Jurgen Klopp in 2024, Liverpool tried to appoint Alonso, but he remained at Bayer Leverkusen before joining Los Blancos.
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Bayern Munich, who Alonso also represented, are perhaps the only other club that could tempt him back into management, but Vincent Kompany is in the middle of a fine spell in charge.
Manchester City could approach their former captain if Pep Guardiola leaves, but Enzo Maresca, who was replaced by Rosenior at Chelsea, is more likely to come in.
A number of things would need to happen for that scenario to play out, while it could be an easy appointment for the reigning Premier League champions after talk of a Slot departure increased. He has overseen just 13 wins out of 26 games in all competitions this year.
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However, three consecutive victories has seen the pressure on Slot’s shoulders lessen, with Liverpool now in a great position to qualify for next season’s Champions League and the manager most likely to be given another chance to build on his successful first campaign at Anfield.
Victory over Manchester United this weekend will move Slot’s side up to third and confirm their place in the competition for the 2026/27 season.
A 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday was their latest triumph with it a welcome sight to see both Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz on target.
An injury to Mohamed Salah somewhat marred the win with Slot’s update after the game also far from positive. He said: “We don’t know, that’s the best answer I can give because if I say it might be a chance then probably all the headlines are, ‘there might be a chance…’
“We simply don’t know but what we do know is the season is in four weeks over, so there are not a lot of games being played. We have to wait and see how his injury is and if he is able to return to play.
“What I do know about Mo is throughout all of these years he has taken such good care of his body that he will have the minimum time required to recover from an injury. Let’s hope for the best and that he is available in the last part (of the season).”
Alisson Becker missed the Palace victory which saw Freddie Woodman in goal but the Brazilian is eyeing a return from a hamstring injury for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.
