Xabi Alonso, a Liverpool great, has committed to coach his former club next summer: report

Mark White wrote this around 22 hours ago.
Liverpool could sign Xabi Alonso next summer as a result of a clause in his contract with Bayern Munich that allows him to return.

Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso is free to return to Anfield next summer and manage the club.

The Basque manager is presently in charge of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, where he has turned around the club’s fortunes.

Leverkusen lead the Bundesliga coming into Julian Nagelsmann’s first international break as Germany manager, and Alonso has received praise for his high-energy, cerebral style of play.

Reds fans are already impressed enough to want the 2005 Champions League champion to succeed Jurgen Klopp one day, and their wish may come true.

According to SportBILD, Alonso is under contract with Leverkusen until 2026, although he has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave for any of his three major European clubs.

Of course, Liverpool is one, where the World Cup winner spent five successful years in midfield alongside Steven Gerrard. The other two are Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

During his time at the Bernabeu, Alonso won a second European title with Los Blancos under Carlo Ancelotti.

He might now take over for the renowned manager if he decides to quit the 14-time Champions League winners next summer.

Meanwhile, with Bayern struggling to keep pace with Die Werkself at the top of the table, they might turn to their own former midfield metronome, who was recruited to the club by Pep Guardiola and employed as a centre-back.

Despite Jurgen Klopp’s contract on Merseyside running until 2025, Football Transfers have claimed that the German will assess his options at the end of the season.

Nagelsmann’s contract with the German national team is a short-term one – and Klopp is believed to be interested in the role after he leaves Anfield.

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Ian Doyle takes a statistical look at Liverpool’s promising start to the season after eight Premier League fixtures

So far, so good. Liverpool FC Reloaded might not be fully firing just yet, but their ammunition is already giving Premier League rivals cause for concern.

Only the controversial, VAR-infected defeat at Tottenham Hotspur has prevented Jurgen Klopp’s side from starting their top-flight campaign without defeat having negotiated the final 11 games of last season unbeaten.

With five of their opening eight matches this term away from home and already having faced four of last season’s top eight – three on the road – along with traditional heavyweights Chelsea, it hasn’t been the easiest of openings. Nevertheless, a haul of 17 points has left the Reds only three off the summit.

Reasons for encouragement, for sure. But closer analysis of the statistics highlight areas where Liverpool clearly can do better, along with others in which their success may come as a surprise.

In terms of tangible values, Liverpool stand in a reasonable position. Only Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Brighton have scored more than the 18 goals the Reds have managed this season, while defensively just five teams have conceded more than the nine Liverpool have leaked.