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Liverpool fans are looking forward to a second season under the stewardship of Arne Slot as they aim for another Premier League title.

Slot walked into a seemingly impossible job this time last year, tasked with replacing legendary former manager Jurgen Klopp.

However, the Dutchman soon put his own stamp on Liverpool, guiding them to an unexpected league title win at the first time of asking.

Slot’s achievements were made even more impressive by the fact he was not many people’s first choice to replace Klopp as Liverpool manager.

After a ridiculously good season with Bayer Leverkusen, fans had wanted to see an Anfield return for Xabi Alonso.

Although Alonso ended up staying at Leverkusen for another year before joining Real Madrid, he has still had a hand in strengthening Liverpool, after developing new signing Florian Wirtz into a world class talent.

And after completing his move to Anfield last week, Wirtz has outlined Alonso’s reaction to him picking Liverpool as his next club.



Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Having managed him at Leverkusen for more than two years, Alonso is clearly an important figure in Wirtz’s career.

As a result, there had been a feeling that the 22-year-old could be inclined to join his former boss in moving to Real Madrid.

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However, reports have since suggested that Madrid knew Wirtz only wanted Liverpool, meaning Alonso would have to make do without his talisman at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Nevertheless, Wirtz says the Spaniard was happy to see him join his former club in England.

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As seen during the ‘Florian Wirtz: Signing Day’ video released by Liverpool on Thursday, the Reds’ new record signing discussed Alonso’s reaction to his move while speaking about his own English skills.

“Xabi was speaking English,” Wirtz was overheard saying, while waiting for an MRI scan.

Because he was telling me he came also at 22 [years old] to Liverpool.”

Although Wirtz and Alonso are apart for the time being, the German’s move to Liverpool has perhaps set up another meeting in the future.

At just 22 years old, there is a chance Wirtz will play for the Reds for a long number of years.

With reports claiming that Alonso still wants to manage Liverpool at some stage of his career, there is a genuine possibility that he replaces Slot when the time is right.

A lot would have to line up for that to happen of course, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Wirtz and Alonso’s stories could intertwine once again at Anfield.

In the meantime, Liverpool fans will be hoping Slot can follow Alonso’s lead in getting the best out of Wirtz.