Liverpool's Xabi Alonso hunt rivals Man City

Former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso is being courted by Liverpool and Manchester City. (realmadrid.com)

JAKARTA - Liverpool thought they would not encounter obstacles when recruiting coach Xabi Alonso to replace Arne Slot. However, Liverpool was not alone in hunting Alonso. The big rival in the English Premier League, Manchester City showed interest in bringing in the former Real Madrid coach.

Failing to architect Madrid so that he was dismissed in the middle of the competition did not make Alonso lose his appeal. He still has a magnet that makes Liverpool not switch focus on Alonso. Sooner or later, The Reds will bring the 44-year-old coach.

Even though Liverpool is currently being handled by Slot, their togetherness is likely to end sooner. This is because Liverpool has failed in various competitions. Last, Liverpool was eliminated in the FA Cup after being beaten by Man City 4-0 in the quarter-finals.

They also failed in the English League Cup and lost the opportunity to defend the Premier League title because they only ranked fifth. Even Liverpool's hopes of entering the Champions League zone have not come true.

Liverpool's last hope is none other than the Champions League which has entered the quarter-finals. The question is, Mohamed Salah et al. have to meet the defending champion Paris Saint-Germain. Only the chance to qualify is still fifty-fifty because Liverpool can always surprise when playing in European competitions.

Liverpool's poor results this season put Slot in danger of being sacked. If this is his last season, Slot's position is likely to be replaced by Alonso.

Even in the match against Man City at the Etihad when they lost badly, Liverpool fans chanted Alonso's name. A signal that fans want the club to change managers and bring back Alonso who once led Liverpool to win the 2005 Champions League.

The question is, Liverpool's attempt to bring in Alonso will not be smooth. Man City is ready to compete with Liverpool to bring in a coach who successfully led Bayer Leverkusen to win the German Bundesliga 2024 for the first time in the club's history.

Man City is actively looking for a manager to replace Pep Guardiola who could resign after the competition. The 55-year-old has achieved great success by winning many trophies for Man City.

However, the club has also prepared itself if Guardiola does not continue the contract which enters its last year. If not at the end of this season, Guardiola is said to close his contract with Man City in 2027.

Man City has indeed targeted Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea manager who was Guardiola's assistant at Man City. Maresca has already had talks with the Cityzens regarding the possibility of replacing Guardiola.

But most recently, Man City is also hunting Alonso. This will be an interesting competition if Guardiola leaves his post at Man City and Liverpool dismiss Slot.