Xabi Alonso makes his Anfield return on Tuesday night time – however in a special capability to what number of Liverpool followers beforehand thought he would.
The previous Reds midfielder was closely tipped to succeed Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside earlier this yr earlier than staying with Bayer Leverkusen, the place he received the Bundesliga title final season.
As an alternative, Liverpool went for Feyenoord boss Arne Slot, who has made an outstanding begin to his reign, with the membership at the moment sitting prime of the Premier League and profitable all three of their Champions League video games thus far this time period.
Alonso, who scored within the ultimate when Liverpool received the competitors in 2005, has the possibility to finish that good begin when the Reds host Leverkusen of their fourth Champions League sport on Tuesday.
Slot: Alonso is a ‘particular’ supervisor
Slot has heaped reward on Alonso forward of his first sport at Anfield as a supervisor, describing the Spaniard as “particular”.
Final season, the 42-year-old guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten season within the Bundesliga, additionally amassing the German Cup earlier than defeat to Atalanta within the Europa League ultimate prevented them from finishing a treble.
‘It’s a giant European tie’ 👊
Arne Slot’s pre-Bayer Leverkusen press convention 🗣️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 4, 2024
Slot mentioned of his counterpart: “He’s particular, that’s clear. [He went to a] membership who have been backside of the league and, with the identical gamers, introduced all of them the best way up with out spending that a lot cash that summer time, solely bringing in a single or two excellent gamers.
“He had a season the place they solely misplaced the ultimate of the Europa League, [which] tells you he’s particular. What it’s that makes him particular is, for me, tough to say as a result of I haven’t confronted him but and I haven’t labored with him.
“[It] is likely to be [because] he has labored with excellent managers prior to now.
“He was a participant with an unimaginable perception into the sport; he knew when to be the place and he performed on the highest ranges, so he in all probability is aware of and understands how these gamers really feel in sure moments.”
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen: Data on the road
Liverpool have an enormous impediment standing of their manner of creating it 4 wins from 4 on Tuesday as they welcome a staff with a exceptional away document.
Leverkusen are with out defeat in 34 away video games, profitable 24 of these video games, that means Slot dealing with probably his greatest check but since taking the Anfield hotseat.
In reality, if Leverkusen keep away from defeat towards the Reds after which on Saturday at bottom-of-the-table Bochum, they are going to gave gone 18 months unbeaten on their travels below Alonso.
They’re additionally but to lose within the Champions League this season, having crushed Feyenoord and AC Milan earlier than drawing with Brest.
That mentioned. Leverkusen are but to achieve the heights they beforehand scaled within the league final season, having taken 16 factors thus far – 9 fewer than what number of they’d final time period – whereas they’ve only one win of their final 4.
Liverpool, in the meantime, have crushed Milan, Bologna and RB Leipzig within the Champions League thus far.
Star attacker Mohamed Salah can be one aim away from scoring his fiftieth within the Champions League, with Liverpool additionally unbeaten towards German sides at Anfield in 20 earlier video games.
