Xabi Alonso's Liverpool Homecoming Takes Shape as Slot's Reign Ends

The writing appears to be on the wall for Arne Slot at Anfield. Spanish reports suggest that Xabi Alonso's return to Liverpool is now all but sealed, with the Spaniard having held a final meeting in Madrid to confirm his switch to the Premier League giants.

Slot's second season has been a far cry from his title-winning debut. The Reds crashed out of the FA Cup to Manchester City and suffered a humbling 4-0 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals. However, two recent Premier League victories have at least given Liverpool a fighting chance of securing Champions League football next season—a threshold the board had deemed essential given their £400m summer spending spree.

According to reports emanating from Spain, Alonso's appointment is now beyond doubt. Contact between the former Real Madrid manager and Liverpool's hierarchy has remained consistent since his dismissal by Florentino Pérez, with the Spanish tactician's future described as a formality. Slot's fate, by contrast, is characterised as sealed following what insiders view as a disastrous campaign on all fronts.

Alonso will be returning to what was his home for five years, reportedly with assurances that he will enjoy complete autonomy in reshaping the squad to his specifications.

The 42-year-old has already begun planning his rebuild, with intelligence suggesting he has earmarked Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven and Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon as his opening targets.

Cole's Chelsea Conundrum

Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has expressed admiration for Alonso's credentials but remains sceptical the Spaniard would entertain a move to Chelsea if Liverpool doesn't materialise. Speaking to Paddy Power, Cole praised Alonso's track record, particularly his work at Bayer Leverkusen, yet acknowledged that Stamford Bridge is unlikely to appeal.

Cole argued that Chelsea's ownership structure at BlueCo bears responsibility for the club's managerial merry-go-round, pointing to a systemic failure rather than individual manager failings. He suggested that successive appointments—from Liam Hennessey through Enzo Maresca to Mauricio Pochettino—have been undermined by a lack of cohesion at boardroom level and an absence of genuine inquiry into why the formula has repeatedly faltered.

"The manager has to be the one making the football decisions," Cole insisted, highlighting how conflicting voices at Chelsea create an environment where sacking the manager becomes the easiest solution when difficulties arise.