Paul Gorst: Xabi Alonso has become the favorite to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool later this year after a significant result on Saturday night that will be repeated throughout the rest of European football. A 3-0 win over Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich was impressive in itself, but maintaining a five-point lead over unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table boosted the club’s confidence.
He was a midfielder and cemented the idea that he would be one of the coaches on the continent. It’s hard to root for anyone these days, and even if the club don’t decide to replace Klopp based on emotion, fan feedback or prejudice, Alonso’s time at the BayArena has been so impressive that they might as well to be taken seriously.
He would still not win the 2005 Champions League with the Reds. Add to that his Anfield connections and it has to be said that there are few credible options elsewhere. Other managers will certainly be considered. It’s hard to imagine who they will be now as Liverpool fans continue to boo their former midfield maestro.
The final months of the current era cannot be easily predicted and this will be an emotional farewell match for today’s greats, but Alonso’s continued progress in Germany is indicative of life after Klopp.
That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give him right now.”There’s a fly in the proverbial”Ian Doyle: Finding the next Jurgen Klopp is an impossible task for Fenway Sports Group.
Instead, they now have to make another deal. Kenny Dalglish was initially a fan-friendly figure, steadying the ship and uniting the club after the sacking of Roy Hodgson. Next up was Brendan Rodgers, an ambitious young director with new ideas. With Klopp, he was a household name who could take Liverpool to the next level and get the fans on board.This time, instead of looking for someone to oversee a major overhaul, FSG will rely on the foundation that Klopp and his coaching staff can leave behind to understand how to operate at a big club.
Xabi Alonso – Saturday’s result – and the reactions after the game is a clear example, which only makes the situation worse. However, there is a potential fly in the ointment. It could be Liverpool itself.Not on purpose, of course.
However, if Leverkusen play the Reds in this season’s Europa League, especially in the final, emotions could come to the fore and make it difficult for the Bundesliga to approve a summer transfer.Apart from that, Alonso is the unanimous choice of Liverpool fans and one of the early leaders of the current powers.
Victory against Bayern Munich at the weekend further validated the popular Spaniard’s status. Beth Lindoff: Appointing a former player as manager always has an element of romance, but what Xabi Alonso is doing at Bayer Leverkusen proves his bid to become Liverpool’s next manager is more than sentimental.
