Arne Slot is under big pressure after Liverpool's torrid run of form continued against PSV at Anfield in the Champions League on Wednesday night
Kylian Mbappe shakes hands with Xabi Alonso - who is now being linked with a return to Liverpool
Kylian Mbappe shakes hands with Xabi Alonso - who is now being linked with a return to Liverpool
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Kylian Mbappe has called on Real Madrid's players to "protect" Xabi Alonso after the former Liverpool man was linked with a return to Anfield. Alonso has seen his name thrown into the mix as a possible replacement for Arne Slot, who is now under big pressure to turn things around after a 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.
Slot insisted he is not worried about his own future after Liverpool’s dismal season took a further turn for the worse. Dominik Szoboszlai's strike cancelled out Ivan Perisic's early penalty, but Guus Til's strike and a late double from Couhaib Driouech completed a miserable evening at Anfield.
But despite the defeat, which was Liverpool’s ninth in 12 matches, the ECHO understands that no decision on parting ways with Slot is imminent. However, that hasn't stopped the bookmakers from making their feelings clear on who could replace the Dutchman.
Jurgen Klopp is the overriding favourite to make a sensational return to the club, but Alonso's odds have been cut to as low as 5/2 with BetVictor. The former Spain international is 6/1 with both Paddy Power and Sky Bet.
Alonso himself has been under pressure in recent weeks at the Santiago Bernabeu following a mixed start to the campaign, but Mbappe helped ease the pressure when he scored the second-fastest hat-trick in Champions League history as he helped himself to all four goals in Real Madrid’s 4-3 win at Olympiacos on Wednesday night.
Los Blancos were trailing to Chiquinho's early strike at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis when the forward intervened with a seven-minute treble after 22, 24 and 29 minutes. The World Cup winner added a fourth in between fine headers from Mehdi Taremi and Ayoub El Kaabi to help secure his side all three points.
And speaking after the game, Mbappe said: "I know people talk a lot on the outside. It's normal for people to talk when you play for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates with his Real Madrid team-mates after scoring against Olympiacos in the Champions League
Kylian Mbappe celebrates with his Real Madrid team-mates after scoring against Olympiacos in the Champions League
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"We have to protect the players, the coach and the staff. In the end, we're all in this together."
Before he continued: "I think we need to be honest. We are very united; in life nothing is perfect.
"And when you change projects or coaches, it's normal for there to be changes, but I don't think he deserves everything that's happening right now.
"I understand it, because we are Real Madrid and people always have to talk about Real Madrid. It's not something negative; it's just life.
"I think the objective right now is to make the fans feel that we are united and all rowing in the same direction.
"On the boat there may be moments when the wind picks up, but no one is going to jump off it - we are all together and united to win titles this year."