Alonso Tension Sparks Rumours on Merseyside - Media Watch
By Steven Northover
Former Liverpool legend, Xabi Alonso, appears to be close to leaving Spanish giants Real Madrid, after various reporting outlets say the two time Champions League winner has lost the Galactico dressing room.
A number of Madrid players are unhappy with Alonso’s style of management, lack of game time, and tactics. Things seemingly went back to worse when star man, Vinicius Junior, stated that he would not renew his contract if Alonso remained as manager. It makes a marked - and rapid - change in relations from the start of Alonso’s reign. At the time, former Liverpool Right Back, Trent Alexander-Arnold stated, “Xabi Alonso was an idol of mine... You could just see his intelligence in training... the way he sees the game...”
However, any goodwill appears to have ebbed away, leaving the once much sought after manager seemingly drifting out of the Bernabeu door.
Slot out, Alonso in?
Turmoil in Madrid could present an opportunity in Liverpool, however, The Reds’ own traumatic season lurched into another crisis after losing 3-0 to Nottingham Forest. The morale, and energy, sapping loss to the then nineteenth place Forest, Liverpool’s sixth loss in the league so far this season, was the first time during his tenure where Arne Slot’s future as Liverpool manager has come into question.
It was a defeat that seemed to embody everything that has seemingly gone wrong for the Reds this season - a lack of confidence once going a goal behind, defensive frailty at the back, and a lack of imagination up front to even create, let alone score, goalscoring opportunities. For Slot, there appears to be a growing belief that he seems to be either unable or unwilling to change Liverpool’s tactical approach, despite there being ample evidence that whatever was working last season, isn’t working now.
That said, any noise about the Dutchman’s imminent departure appears to be coming solely
from outside Anfield.
There is no evidence of any players becoming frustrated with Slot’s management or approach. After Saturday’s defeat, captain Virgil Van Dijk stated:
“We are definitely letting him [Arne Slot] down, but we’ve let ourselves down, as well.” adding,
“You look at yourself first and then you look at each other... we’re a mess - that’s just a fact.”
Liverpool’s next four fixtures, in Europe and the league (PSV, West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds) are eminently winnable - on paper, anyway- however if the season continues in the same downward spiral that has been a characteristic of this season, then the Club’s hand may be forced before it becomes a real crisis. Should Xabi Alonso (it’s important to remember that the Spaniard was linked to Liverpool long before Slot) come available, it may become a situation that cannot be ignored.