Xabi Alonso’s return to Liverpool felt inevitable – behind the scenes, the reality was always different

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A man who created many a Liverpool goal has promised he will celebrate “for sure” if Chelsea score at Anfield on Wednesday; he had nothing to celebrate in 2024, however, when his Leverkusen were walloped 4-0, or last year, when his Real lost 1-0.Alonso has returned to Anfield with Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid but coming back with Chelsea for the Carabao Cup fourth round will bring a different atmosphere (Getty)The chant in Alonso’s playing days, when Liverpool represented the ancien regime and Chelsea the nouveau riche, was that the Londoners “ain’t got no history”. Liverpool and Alonso have plenty; he scored their first goal against AC Milan in “the miracle of Istanbul”, and they spiralled into decline after his 2009 sale to Real.

When he took Leverkusen to an unbeaten double, he looked a Liverpool manager in waiting. They did not intervene when Chelsea made their move for a man who once had his ankle broken by Frank Lampard in one of the many flashpoints of a rivalry that had a bitterness when Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho patrolled the technical areas.Alonso became a great at Anfield while Liverpool’s rivalry with Chelsea peaked on the pitch (Getty)When Liverpool eventually did sack Slot, they instead opted for an outsider, but one who they felt represented an identity adopted after Alonso left.

A reason to think Liverpool might have turned to Alonso earlier this year was his success with two of their 2025 recruits; Florian Wirtz was named the Bundesliga’s player of the season when Alonso’s unbeaten Leverkusen became champions, while Jeremie Frimpong was also pivotal. He has his Liverpool past, but Liverpool decided Iraola was their future.