Liverpool icon makes clearest case for Xabi Alonso to replace Arne Slot

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Liverpool cult hero Steve Nicol has explained the reason he believes Xabi Alonso should take over from Arne Slot this summer, despite publicly backing the current boss just a few weeks agoSteve Nicol wants Xabi Alonso to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has changed his mind on Xabi Alonso and admits to now wanting the Spaniard to replace Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach.Nicol, who won four league titles and a European Cup with Liverpool in the 1980s, recently claimed he hoped Slot would be given the chance to fix the Reds’ problems next season and that he deserves the opportunity given his title success the previous year.“I think he should keep his job, regardless of whether he gets in the Champions League or not,” the Scot said two weeks ago, in the wake of the loss at Brighton.READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp 'waiting' for Liverpool as pressure grows on Arne SlotREAD MORE: Arne Slot squirms after being reminded of brutal Liverpool truth by reporterHowever, after the FA Cup hammering at the hands of Manchester City, Nicol’s stance has changed.“Considering what’s available, what’s out there, I probably would,” the 64-year-old said, when asked if his opinion had changed."I know you and I [presenter Dan Thomas] were going at it and I was bringing up Real Madrid, I was arguing with you. The point is, I’m going to say Alonso now because at the time I still felt that Arne Slot was the right man.“When you asked me the question, I felt that Arne Slot still deserved to be there, my argument why you don’t rid of him was because of what happened [with Alonso] at Real Madrid.Nicol wants Alonso to replace Slot at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)“But the fact is that Slot’s possibly not going to be there, then it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen if it was Alonso.

There’s nobody else.”Alonso left Real in January after just 34 games in charge, but having represented Liverpool with distinction as a player, and given his successes in Germany as a coach, he remains the outstanding candidate to replace Slot, if the club opts to sack the beleaguered Dutchman.He certainly has garnered support among the Liverpool fanbase, with Alonso’s name being chanted by many away fans as they left the Etihad on Saturday. Many have turned on Slot, and Nicol also feels the current boss should leave.Pushed on why, the former right-back told ESPN: “To be honest, the biggest factor is the level of performance,” he says.Slot is under increasing pressure since Liverpool's defeat to Manchester City on Saturday(Image: Getty Images)“You go through the Liverpool managers, [Jurgen] Klopp, [Sir Kenny] Dalglish, [Bob] Paisley, [Bill] Shankly, they’ve all lost games and they’ve all had periods where things haven’t been going well.“But the actual performance that Liverpool put on yesterday against Man City, it just felt like too much.

Too much of the same.”Liverpool heads to reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday for the first leg of its Champions League semi-final, before hosting Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.