Alonso Expected as Next LFC Manager: Carragher Deems Timing Ideal
Liverpool fans have been buzzing with excitement ever since the news broke that Jurgen Klopp would be leaving the club at the end of the season. The question on everyone’s lips is who will be the next manager to take the reins at Anfield? One name that has been consistently mentioned is that of Xabi Alonso, and his former teammate Jamie Carragher believes that the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
Alonso, currently leading his side Bayern Munich to the top of the Bundesliga table, has been making waves in the football world. His team’s recent 3-0 victory over Bayern showcased his tactical prowess and unbeaten run of 31 games. It’s no wonder that his name is at the top of Liverpool’s list of potential suitors.
Carragher recently provided some interesting insight into what Liverpool fans could expect from Alonso as their new manager. During a segment on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, he analyzed Alonso’s brand of football and how it might look on Merseyside.
One aspect that stood out to Carragher was the style of play employed by Alonso’s current team, Bayer Leverkusen. He noted that a significant number of Leverkusen’s passes were short, with 95% of their passes falling into this category. This style is more reminiscent of a Pep Guardiola team rather than Klopp’s Liverpool. Using a scatter graph to compare passing profiles among Europe’s top five leagues, Carragher showed that Leverkusen sat alongside Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain for the most short passes. In contrast, Liverpool sat further down the graph.
Carragher believes that Alonso would need to find a way to merge his style with what is currently in place at Anfield. He explained, “From the company Leverkusen are keeping, we can say that Alonso’s own influence is more like Pep Guardiola, which makes sense as he’s been his manager. But if Xabi Alonso was to become the Liverpool manager, I think he will, I feel Liverpool are quite fortunate that Jurgen Klopp’s left at this time.”
The former Liverpool defender also highlighted the importance of timing. With Klopp’s departure and the familiarity of the Anfield factor, Carragher believes that Alonso stepping in as the new manager would be a perfect fit. He stated, “The timing for Alonso to step in is pretty perfect for the job he’s doing. There is no doubt that right now he’s looking like the brightest young thing out there as a manager.”
Carragher is confident that Alonso would bring his own philosophy and imprint to the team, while also respecting the style of play that Liverpool has become accustomed to under Klopp. He expects a merging of the two styles, resulting in a team that sits somewhere in the middle of the scatter graph, similar to Bayern Munich.
Overall, Carragher’s analysis paints a promising picture for Liverpool fans. The possibility of Alonso taking over as the next manager brings a sense of excitement and anticipation. With his tactical acumen and understanding of Anfield’s unique energy, Alonso seems like the perfect candidate to lead Liverpool into their next chapter. Only time will tell if these speculations will come to fruition, but one thing is for sure – Liverpool fans can rest assured knowing that their club’s future is in good hands.