Jamie Carragher says how he now feels about Xabi Alonso taking over at Chelsea and not Liverpool
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Liverpool supporters are set to be faced with the strange feeling of seeing a storied former player take over at a Premier League rival, as Xabi Alonso continues to flirt with Chelsea.Reds fans have been begging for Alonso to take over at Anfield since his January sacking from Real Madrid, with Arne Slot’s tenure sinking further into the mud.Nevertheless, the powers that be at Liverpool appear likely to ignore the clamour and stick with Slot, opening the door for Alonso to take over at Stamford Bridge. If Xabi Alonso goes to Chelsea, who should be Liverpool’s next manager?
Credit: Haitham AL-SHUKAIRI/AFP/Getty Images Watching on as his former teammate prepares to join one of the Reds’ biggest domestic rivals, Jamie Carragher has admitted that he will be rooting for Chelsea a little more next season.Carragher hoping Alonso succeeds at ChelseaThere will be some Liverpool supporters who retain a desperate hope that FSG will change their approach and come in for Alonso this summer.However, for now, all signs point to a deal with Chelsea almost being signed. Despite his five years at Liverpool, Alonso looks fairly certain to follow in Fernando Torres’ footsteps and arrive at Stamford Bridge.That does not seem to bother Carragher, who laughed off suggestions that the Blues had ‘got one over’ on Liverpool, and told Sky Sports that he will be rooting for Chelsea next season under Alonso.READ MORE: Liverpool’s data team have now found a very interesting comparison between Arne Slot and Xabi AlonsoPhoto by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images“If he does get the job I will probably want Chelsea to win a little more than I normally do with him being a former teammate,” smiled the Scouser.“But listen, that may be the case next season, but who knows, Liverpool may have pulled off a masterstroke by not listening to the pressure of supporters and sticking with a manager who has already won the Premier League.”As things stand, there will not be many of a Liverpool persuasion who will feel that keeping Slot and ignoring Alonso’s availability is any kind of ‘masterstroke.’Nevertheless, the Spaniard’s difficult time at Real Madrid, plus his lack of experience managing in the Premier League, mean he is not as certain a bet as many seem to feel.On the flip side, Alonso could prove himself to be what many have always suspected he is: one of the very brightest coaches of his generation.
If that happens at Chelsea, not Liverpool, Carragher will be the first to decry his old club in the public sphere. Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox