FSG had reportedly considered appointing Xabi Alonso for Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp left in 2024, but that stance has seemingly changed in the meantime.
In recent months, the former Reds midfielder had been widely touted for a return to Anfield as head coach amid growing pressure on Arne Slot, but as of Sunday morning he’s now the manager of Chelsea.
When LFC were looking for a successor to Klopp two years ago, the Spaniard had seemed a leading candidate at a time when he was masterminding an unbeaten domestic double in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso opted to remain with the Bundesliga club that year before leaving for Real Madrid in 2025, lasting just seven months at the Bernabeu before his swift dismissal in the first two weeks of January.
As reported by Sam Wallace for The Telegraph on Sunday, ‘FSG would have appointed Alonso post-Jürgen Klopp but that Alonso turned down Liverpool, and then waited another year for Real Madrid to become available, seems to have made a profound impression on FSG. They have, it is understood, made no plans to replace Slot this summer.’
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If Alonso was determined to remain with Leverkusen rather than going to Liverpool in 2024, that’s his prerogative and there wasn’t much more that FSG could’ve done to entice him to Anfield.
However, if it’s true that the hierarchy hadn’t considered appointing the Spaniard in recent weeks just because he turned down the Reds two years ago, that’d be incredibly petty and naive on their part.
The decision-makers in the boardroom may still trust in Slot to revive LFC’s fortunes, but there are fewer and fewer fans who share that same faith in the Dutchman, who’s facing increasingly loud and widespread calls to be removed from his position.
It will have hurt Liverpool fans to see a former Anfield great and an excellent manager in Alonso going to a direct domestic rival in Chelsea at a time when so many have been crying out for change on Merseyside.
If the Spaniard goes on to lead the Blues to major silverware in the coming years and the Reds continue their downward trajectory, the apparent stubbornness of FSG in recent weeks and months could come at a massive cost.
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FSG have made a big mistake in not hiring Alonso as LFC manager, and not firing Slot! It will come back to haunt Liverpool. I want to know, how did the owners of LFC make their money if they can’t see that Slot is a loser, and that Alonso is a winner and best thing for Liverpool right now??!
Not only Slot will feel the wrath of the supporters, but the board who make the decisions. If Alonso is a success at Chelski, the board will be under immense pressure to quit.
Slot, Hughes, Edwards, FSG OUT!!!.
You absolute clowns. FSG out? First they rescue the club from Gillett and Hicks ✔️, they rebuild the stadium ✔️ they get Klopp and support him to win leagues ✔️ picks slot, wins the league first try ✔️ buys wirtz, isak, ekitike, chiesa and everyone is creaming their pants ✔️ a season goes poorly with major injuries, jotas death, senior players leaving and the team underperforming = get rid of everyone… unreal the way the world is gone and how people have become extremely entitled
Slot should have been replaced. It is still probable that LFC don’t have european football next year. All Slot has done is chase big named attackers, what about the defense and midfield.
They will sack slott come late october/November… with more rubbish results
The only next best, if not the better option than Alonso is IRAOLA. I don’t know why FSG belittle his achievements and abilities. I see no other manager that can turn things around in the very short term.
Look through the history of FSG at Liverpool and how they run the club. They don’t want a manager who has a say over transfers. That’s the reason they didn’t want Alonso. They want Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to decide who we buy and sell.
Chelsea for the first time have given a manager say over transfers, that was why Alonso was by convincing by Chelsea.
What Alonso achieved in Germany with arguably a smaller German club than what klopp did with Dortmund is a far better than anything slot did in a very weak Dutch league. If there was a 64 page dossier on Alonso, he would have ticked every box.
FSG like control, over spending and selling, They prefer a yes man who won’t say too much when FSG decides to sell one of our best players. Diaz last summer was the perfect example. It’s all to do with saving money and making profits. Alonso although was perfect for success on the pitch. It didn’t fit FSGS business narrative.
That sums up charlatan owners FSG. Who now are deeply unpopular at Liverpool and Boston red Sox.
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