After winning Liverpool their second Premier League title during his first season with the club, fans had been prepared for a long and successful reign under Arne Slot.
The Dutch coach surprised just about everyone by delivering such success at the first time of asking, and his appointment had long since looked like a masterstroke by the Reds hierarchy.
However, fast forward six months from Slot‘s day in the sun with the Premier League trophy, and serious questions are beginning to arise over his long-term suitability at Anfield.
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Liverpool have lost five of their six most recent Premier League games. With little sign of things improving and a worrying lack of tactical identity, some are questioning whether Slot can last.
One of the many things perhaps working in the 47-year-old’s favour is a lack of realistic alternatives to take his position.
If former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso were to become available once again, that would change. And after rumours that the Spaniard could be under pressure at Real Madrid already, journalist Fabrizio Romano has weighed in on Alonso’s current position at Santiago Bernabeu.
Xabi Alonso and Arne Slot clasp hands ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid at Anfield.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Real Madrid not looking to replace Xabi Alonso
Alonso had been the favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp after the legendary German left Liverpool in 2024.
One of the most gifted midfielders of his generation, Alonso had done a supreme job at Bayer Leverkusen and looked a natural fit at Anfield. But after the 43-year-old ruled himself out of the running, Liverpool moved for Slot.
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Alonso has since joined Madrid, where despite sitting top of La Liga, question marks have started to arise over some of his methods in the Spanish press. Matters weren’t helped by Los Blancos’ limp defeat against Liverpool at the beginning of November.
Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, however, Romano claims Real Madrid remain happy with Alonso and have no plans to dismiss him for now.
“It’s the international break so obviously we have many stories in the media,” said the reporter. “At the moment I can guarantee to you that the highest people at the club, including the president Florentino Perez, maintain total trust in Xabi Alonso. There is nothing changed in terms of relationship, no big issues or big problems.
“There are some problems but this is part of life at a big club. It’s normal you have to sort some situations and this is what’s happening at Real Madrid. They keep trying to fix some issues that they have internally with the manager, but it doesn’t mean they are a complete mess as we see sometimes in the media.”
Alonso could end up at Liverpool sooner than expected
While Madrid are seemingly pleased with Alonso for the time being, managers do not tend to have a long lifespan in the Spanish capital once they get on the wrong side of the press.
It must be said that there are no indications that Liverpool are willing to let Slot go either, and Rousing The Kop have been told that the Reds’ top brass retain complete faith in the Premier League winner.
However, it is also clear that things cannot go on as they are. If Slot cannot turn things around, the Liverpool owners will come under serious pressure to take action.
Alonso’s situation at Madrid could come into their thinking in that regard. Should the World Cup winner suddenly become available, they may feel the opportunity to snare him is too good to miss.
Alonso has confirmed that he wants to return to Liverpool during his coaching career, and although that had looked likely to be years down the line, circumstances could dictate that he arrives much sooner than expected.