Arne Slot has dismissed rumours linking Xabi Alonso with his position at Liverpool, describing the suggestion as “one of the weirdest” questions he’s faced in his managerial career ahead of the Champions League clash with Marseille.
Alonso became available after parting ways with Real Madrid earlier last week, and despite Slot’s impressive 12-match unbeaten streak, certain Spanish media outlets have speculated about the former Liverpool midfielder potentially taking over at Anfield. Speaking at his pre-match press conference at the Orange Velodrome before Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Marseille, Slot acknowledged the peculiar nature of the question about Alonso.
“Yes he called me and said: ‘What do you think about the team because I am going to take over in six months, can you tell me a little bit more?’” Slot joked. “Or maybe earlier. Maybe he takes over tomorrow!… No, no, no. This is one of the weirdest questions I ever got.
“What is there to say? I am working here for a little bit more than one and a half years and I really like my work over here. We won the league last season, struggled more in the league this season. That is also obvious, so yes what is there left to say?”
Addressing the mixed reception from fans following the 1-1 draw with Burnley, Slot said: “The boos? Maybe I heard a few but it wasn’t as if it was a lot. But I also think it is completely normal that if you have a draw at home to Burnley that no one is happy about that.
“But I think the moment the people went home, when emotions calmed down, they probably thought in the one and a half years I have been at Liverpool we have never created so many chances against a low block as we did in that game.
“Maybe it was a little bit more positive than the result showed but we are in a results business, I know that.”
Alonso was first linked with the Liverpool manager’s job two years ago when Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving Anfield in the summer of 2024. The Reds went on to appoint Slot from Feyenoord, with Alonso going on to remain at Bayer Leverkusen at the time before joining Madrid last summer.
Liverpool’s draw with Burnley at the weekend leaves them in fourth place in the Premier League table, and are now just one point ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United, who beat Manchester City in their match on Saturday.