When the dust settled on that he was leaving Liverpool, lots of people assumed that would be heading to Anfield a few months later. Belatedly, that is about to be the case.
Arne Slot was the man that Liverpool chose in the end, and with 13 wins from 15, it looks to have been an inspired decision. The Dutchman has excelled and his coaching has paid off so far. Under his tenure, Liverpool leads the again.
It remains the case, though, that . An exceptional midfielder for Liverpool, Real Madrid and , it is still possible that he manages each of those giants at some point in his post-playing career.
Alonso didn't so much reject any approach from Liverpool heading into the summer as make it clear that he was not ready to leave Bayer Leverkusen, who he was about to lead to a double. That was an admirable stance — with a slow, step-by-step approach to his career having been something of a theme up to this point — but it was also a risk.
Winning the Bundesliga again this season, even after keeping his key players in the summer, was always going to be a difficult task. The , really, a competition in which he has only ever managed three games up to now, is where Alonso will now be judged in the campaign that follows his unbeaten spell. And so far, it has been going well.
"It’s a huge game," Alonso said during a press conference earlier in the week. "To play in the Champions League at Anfield, it can’t get much better than that. The atmosphere is super. They are one of best teams in Europe, they are dominant so it’s a huge challenge, they will make it difficult for us."
Only Liverpool and Aston Villa have won all three European games so far in UEFA's top competition to date. Leverkusen is among the seven teams that have seven points, having beaten Feyenoord and AC Milan without conceding a goal before drawing with surprise package Brest. Facing his old side at Anfield, of course, will be an altogether different test.
"Alonso’s transition from a world-class midfielder to an elite manager has been nothing short of impressive," Bundesliga commentator and writer tells . "At Bayer Leverkusen, he’s shown an astute tactical mind, blending the elegance he embodied as a player with a sharp, modern approach to coaching.
"His teams play with a discipline and fluidity that mirror his own style on the pitch — patient, measured, but deadly when the moment arrives. Alonso’s knack for maximizing talent in young players has also turned heads, developing an exciting crop that makes Leverkusen — at their best — a thrilling side to watch.
"His understanding of the game’s finer details gives him an edge, and his calm, charismatic presence on the touchline has instilled confidence across the club. His journey seems poised to follow a path similar to or — a manager capable of leading the best teams to silverware while reshaping the tactical landscape of the game itself."
Leverkusen only lost one match in the whole of last season — the Europa League final against Atalanta — and became the first-ever team in Germany to go a full top-flight campaign without defeat. That run was ended this time around on matchday two.
How has this season started generally? Certainly not the level that Alonso would have hoped. In a word, Lovell described it as "sloppy". It was RB Leipzig who beat the reigning champion on home soil and , who has not been perfect under Vincent Kompany, looks likely — as was always a possibility — to restore the usual order in the German top flight.
"Alonso's record-breaking champions sit in fourth, seven points off the top after showing some early season rust, with the joint most draws (four) stalling their momentum," Lovell says. "Twice losing two-goal leads sloppily in games, relinquishing their proud unbeaten Bundesliga 35 game run against Leipzig, and also alarmingly against relegation fodder Kiel at home, 2-2 draw."
Leverkusen has already conceded 15 goals in the first nine games of this season, compared to just 24 over the course of its league campaign last year. Those late goals that became a feature have seemingly dried up, too, which was always a possibility.
"But they are perfectly capable of raising their game," Lovell warns. "Watch out for Florian Wirtz, at Anfield."
For Alonso, the Liverpool game will be a chance for him to show that he belongs at the very top of the coaching game. While the Reds won't need a new coach for a while now Slot is at the helm, Real Madrid could come calling in 2025. Manchester City, should it lose — and having now missed out on — would be keen to talk.
"He’s inevitably viewed as a natural fit for a future role at Real Madrid," Lovell explains. "His pedigree as a player and his burgeoning reputation as a manager would make him an ideal successor to Carlo Ancelotti.
"That said, Alonso’s clear vision and dedication to his craft suggest he’s not in any particular rush to depart Germany. On a scale of 1-10, I would suggest it’s a five right now that he ends up at next summer."
