Ahead Of Liverpool Vs Real Madrid: Alonso Supports Florian Wirtz For Success At Anfield

Florian Wirtz received support from Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso (Instagram/@liverpoolfc).

JAKARTA - Xabi Alonso supports Florian Wirtz to achieve success at Liverpool. He said it was only a matter of time before the 116 million star performed brilliantly at Anfield.

Playmaker Wirtz has faced criticism since joining Bayer Leverkusen last summer, with no goals and only two assists in 13 appearances so far in the Premier League and Champions League.

Alonso - a former Liverpool player who coached Wirtz for three seasons at Leverkusen, including winning the 2024 Bundesliga title - returned to Anfield on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, this time in a Real Madrid shirt.

"I have no doubt, it's just a matter of time. It's a great opportunity for him, coming to Liverpool after years in Germany, and being there throughout his life," Alonso told a news conference before the match on Monday, November 3, 2025, about Wirtz.

Wirtz is a Leverkusen key player under Alonso, scoring 11 goals and providing 11 assists in the Bundesliga in the 2023/2024 season, then 10 goals and 12 assists in the 2024/2025 season.

"He needs to adapt, but he's a very special player. He's competitive. One of the reasons I'm here is because of Flo."

"Hopefully not tomorrow, but I hope he will soon show his quality and class," said Alonso.

Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold is included in the Real Madrid squad for the Champions League match against Liverpool, after experiencing an injury-disturbed start to the season.

He has so far only played 151 minutes in LaLiga and five minutes in the Champions League. The right-back is now ready to face his former club.

"He's fine, he didn't play yesterday (against Valencia) in the context of the game, but he's available."

"Tomorrow, he can play. We need him. Trent has great quality. This is a new chapter for him. We have to help him perform. He's an amazing player," said Alonso.

Alexander-Arnold - who won the Champions League and two Premier League titles while at Anfield - were able to face an unfriendly welcome upon his return to his boyhood club.

You see, Liverpool fans are not happy with how he left on a free transfer last summer.

"We haven't talked about it yet. He has to feel his own feelings, he has to enjoy them in his own way."

"I will not tell him how to feel. His history is a bit different from mine. He was born here. He deserves to enjoy that moment. Glad to be back and for him," said Alonso.