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 12 months 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 presently sitting high of the Premier League and successful all three of their Champions League video games to date this time period.
Alonso, who scored within the remaining when Liverpool received the competitors in 2005, has the prospect to finish that excellent 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 remaining 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 had been backside of the league and, with the identical gamers, introduced all of them the way in which up with out spending that a lot cash that summer season, solely bringing in a single or two superb 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, troublesome to say as a result of I haven’t confronted him but and I haven’t labored with him.
“[It] may be [because] he has labored with superb managers up 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 most likely is aware of and understands how these gamers really feel in sure moments.”
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen: Information on the road
Liverpool have an enormous impediment standing of their means of creating it 4 wins from 4 on Tuesday as they welcome a staff with a outstanding away file.
Leverkusen are with out defeat in 34 away video games, successful 24 of these video games, that means Slot dealing with presumably his largest take a look at but since taking the Anfield hotseat.
In actual fact, if Leverkusen keep away from defeat in opposition to the Reds after which on Saturday at bottom-of-the-table Bochum, they’ll gave gone 18 months unbeaten on their travels beneath Alonso.
They’re additionally but to lose within the Champions League this season, having overwhelmed 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 to date – 9 fewer than what number of that they had final time period – whereas they’ve only one win of their final 4.
Liverpool, in the meantime, have overwhelmed Milan, Bologna and RB Leipzig within the Champions League to date.
Star attacker Mohamed Salah can also be one purpose away from scoring his fiftieth within the Champions League, with Liverpool additionally unbeaten in opposition to German sides at Anfield in 20 earlier video games.
