When things are going badly for a manager, it rarely helps when a strong alternative option becomes available.
So when Xabi Alonso was dismissed by Real Madrid barely six months into the job, Liverpool’s Arne Slot was presented with a serious new challenge.
The Dutchman knows, as everyone does, that the Basque coach is not only a former Anfield icon but was also Liverpool’s first choice to replace Jurgen Klopp two years ago.
At that time, Alonso, who was breaking records at Bayer Leverkusen, was reportedly offered a three-year Liverpool deal.
But the deal unravelled publicly when Alonso announced he’d stay in Germany.
“After lot of talks about my future, I used the break to reflect and make my decision,” he explained at the time.
“I feel this is the right place to be for me as a young coach. My job at Bayer is not over. I want to help the club, help the players to develop, the board is great. it’s all fantastic here.”
This rejection’s impact was evident when Klopp was asked about Alonso’s choice while still manager.
“One part I can speak about is a young manager where he is doing well,” he responded diplomatically, “being at a club in a similar situation, I did pretty much the same and I never regretted it. That’s pretty much everything I can say about it.”
Liverpool, England - November 5: Bayer 04 Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso and Liverpool manager Arne Slot speak at full time during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Much has changed. Slot surpassed expectations by delivering the Premier League title in his first season, while Alonso eventually left Bayer for Real Madrid.
These events seemed to close the chapter on any imminent return to North West England.
Liverpool also spent over half a billion dollars to back Slot after his opening season.
But a severe dip in form this autumn has left Liverpool fighting for a Champions League spot after losing the title.
Following yet another heartbreaking last-minute defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, the pressure on Arne Slot has been ramped up by former Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher.
"If you don’t qualify for the Champions League, having won the league the season before and spent as much as Liverpool, I don't think you've got a leg to stand on," he said on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.
"The real worry I have for Liverpool in terms of qualifying for the Champions League is the three big things that stand out in the Premier League now are set-pieces, counter-attacking football and coming up against low blocks.
"Liverpool can’t cope with any of them. What we're seeing is a team in the Premier League that's not suited to the Premier League.
"Once you start seeing what Manchester United and Chelsea have done in the last couple of weeks, you start seeing that Liverpool could actually finish outside the Champions League positions. I really fear for them.
"Once you start fearing Champions League qualification for next season, that’s when I think we've got a completely different proposition when we're talking about the manager's job. That, for me, is completely different.
"If we’re talking about not winning the league or challenging for the league, that is a collective responsibility, and Liverpool don't win the league every year.
“Not making the Champions League from [being] champions, spending £450m and having the highest wage bill in the Premier League, which is normally the biggest determining factor over where you finish in the league, I think you've got serious questions to ask.”
Slot can take some comfort: under current ownership, Liverpool avoids knee-jerk decisions.
However, if Champions League qualification isn’t achieved, tough questions will follow by season’s end.
A manager like Xabi Alonso won’t stay available for long. Being fired by Real Madrid after six months holds little stigma when your approach doesn’t fit their superstar model.
So if Liverpool really does consider him a better fit than their current coach, the club will need to be ruthless.
Slot hopes the Premier League trophy secures his position, but renewed interest in Alonso elsewhere could quickly change Liverpool’s stance.
One thing is clear: with Alonso suddenly available, Slot faces renewed pressure on his position. The nightmare from Spain is not just a worry—it is a real threat.