Liverpool reservations over Alonso shown to be unfounded as Spaniard has last laugh on Real Madrid - opinion

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Calls for Liverpool to replace Arne Slot with Xabi Alonso grew louder on Saturday as the Reds crashed out of the FA Cup in humiliating fashion.But while many supporters are keen to see the Spaniard back at Anfield 17 years after his exit as a player, some remain unconvinced by his underwhelming spell in charge of Real Madrid.Liverpool legend Steve Nicol warned the Reds against hiring Alonso based on his perceived failure in Madrid, but after his successor, fellow former Liverpool star Alvaro Arbeloa, lost again this weekend, it is clear that the decision makers at Anfield should ignore such suggestions. Will Xabi Alonso be Liverpool manager by the start of the 2026/27 season?

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto Arbeloa proving that Alonso did a good job at Real MadridThough Alonso was sacked after losing the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona, his time at the Santiago Bernabeu was, statistically at least, far from being a disaster.He lost only six of his 34 matches in charge, too many for Real perhaps, but compared with Arbeloa, Alonso was doing a superb job.The former Liverpool right-back may have guided Los Blancos easily past Manchester City and into the Champions League last eight, but after Saturday’s defeat against Real Mallorca, he has now lost the same amount of games as Alonso at the helm.Six defeats from 19 matches in charge is a terrible record for a Real Madrid manager, but what it does highlight is that Alonso was doing a fine job with the players at his disposal.Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty ImagesREAD MORE: ‘Three factors’ will decide Arne Slot’s Liverpool future and he’s ‘already failed’ oneGiven he was only in the job for six months, it is hard to know just how much stock the Liverpool owners will place in their former midfielder’s stint at Madrid.But though he is certainly no elite manager himself, Arbeloa’s struggles since taking over may at least put a difficult period for Alonso into perspective.Alonso is the right man to re-energise LiverpoolIf his troubled time at Madrid is the only blot on Alonso’s copybook as a potential Liverpool manager, then it really is a no-brainer to bring him back.An undefeated league and cup winning manager with an unfancied team, the 45-year-old is also the type of character Liverpool really need after the passiveness of Slot. Rate Arne Slot’s second season as Liverpool head coach Can anyone make a serious argument for higher than a C? 😶 Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine When in charge of Leverkusen there were videos of Alonso heading into the stands to speak with supporters after matches, and his existing connection with Liverpool means he would be warmly received at Anfield.After the coldness of this season under Slot, the Reds need to feel that kinship with whoever comes in next.

Any other manager would have to build that, but there is no need for Alonso to have to do so.Put all of this together, and seeing his Madrid spell in a new light, it is truly hard to make a case that Alonso should not take over next season.His teams tend to play fast, attacking football, and despite some surprise defeats at Madrid, that tends to be winning football. Los Blancos are learning that perhaps they were too rash to let Alonso go, but their mistake can still work to Liverpool’s benefit.