Xabi Alonso to Liverpool? Reds approach Spaniard coach to consider replacing Arne Slot

According to Diario AS, Liverpool recently reached out to Alonso’s agent, shortly after the Reds’ 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth. The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager is currently on holiday following his dismissal in Madrid. Despite spending only seven months at the club, Alonso remains one of the most highly rated coaches on the market and is still a leading target for several top clubs.

Liverpool are enduring a difficult second season under Arne Slot. After winning the Premier League last year, the club invested close to £500 million on high-profile signings such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. However, the new arrivals have struggled to connect, and Liverpool’s results have gone downhill.

The Reds have not won a Premier League match since the start of 2026, and the loss to Bournemouth further intensified fan frustration with the Dutch manager. Liverpool are traditionally reluctant to sack a coach mid-season, but the availability of Alonso may force a rethink. Even so, the Spaniard is understood to be in no rush to take up a new role, despite positive signals from the initial contact.

This is not the first time Liverpool and Alonso have been linked. In 2024, reports suggested he turned down interest from both Liverpool and Bayern Munich in order to remain at Bayer Leverkusen for another season, before later joining Real Madrid. With Vincent Kompany now thriving at Bayern, Liverpool appear to be the most realistic option if Alonso decides to return to management.

Alonso left Real Madrid after just seven months, having taken charge in May 2025 and departing following a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the 2026 Spanish Super Cup. During his time at the club, he recorded a win rate of over 70 per cent and kept Madrid in the title race. However, tensions behind the scenes were widely reported to have played a key role in his exit.

At Liverpool, the situation could be different. Alonso would reunite with Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, and inherit a squad shaped by the disciplined culture established under Jürgen Klopp. While Liverpool are unlikely to immediately adopt Alonso’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system due to a lack of depth at centre-back, he has already shown tactical flexibility during his spell in Madrid and could adapt quickly to the squad at Anfield.