Xabi Alonso joining Liverpool could be bad news for Liverpool trio including Rio Ngumoha - opinion
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.
Xabi Alonso to Liverpool is looking more likely after a recent update in the German media this week.Amid continued speculation about Arne Slot’s future in the 2025/26 campaign, it has now been said that Alonso is ready to join his former club in the dugout.The Spaniard previously overachieved in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, but the arrival of the ex-midfielder could be bad news for Rio Ngumoha, Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo. Is Mohamed Salah Liverpool’s greatest EVER player?
Nine years of sheer brilliance are coming to an end… Photo Credit: Getty Images/Stuart Franklin – UEFA/Michael Regan Xabi Alonso’s style isn’t ideal for Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Rio NgumohaDuring his prolific spell in the Bundesliga, which saw him excelling with now Liverpool stars Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, Alonso heavily favoured a three-back formation that primarily used wing-backs instead of wingers.He did try the system at Real Madrid as well, but he wasn’t really in a position to drop or move players like Vinicius Jr.However, now that Mohamed Salah is on his way out, Alonso will not have any superstar wingers to contend with should he move back to Anfield, which is good news for the coach but probably not ideal for the aforementioned trio.Under Slot, Gakpo has been the main left-winger, Chiesa has been used as a backup and Ngumoha has started to get more minutes out wide as well. Will Xabi Alonso be Liverpool manager by the start of the 2026/27 season?
If no, where will he be instead? Photo Credit: Getty Images/Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto However, were Liverpool to switch to a 3-5-2, which makes the most sense given Alonso’s history and the need to start both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, there would be no room for any of them.Fans don’t rate Gakpo anyway, and Chiesa’s future has been questioned this season amid a lack of minutes, so said duo not playing probably wouldn’t concern the Reds’ faithful too much.However, Ngumoha is impressing during his limited outings, and the teenager needs game time to develop.But unless Alonso uses him out of position at wing-back or doesn’t play two strikers, which he probably will, it is hard to see how the Englishman would get any meaningful minutes under the ex-Bayern Munich star.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox