
Papers: Arsenal's Champions League winning bonuses revealed
Arsenal players could earn £1.175 million if they win against PSG in the Champions League final.
James Pearce confirms that FSG supports Arne Slot as Liverpool's manager, despite links to Xabi Alonso. The possibility of Alonso replacing Slot is not imminent.
Mentioned in this story
James Pearce confirms FSGās stance on Arne Slotās future amid Xabi Alonso links
Liverpool supporters know all too well how easily romance can overtake reality. Few names stir Anfield quite like Xabi Alonso, a player whose intelligence, elegance and feel for the club have never really left the imagination of the fanbase. Yet, as fresh reporting from James Pearce of The Athletic makes clear, the prospect of Alonso replacing Arne Slot appears far less immediate than the headlines might suggest.
The key line from Pearceās update is not that Alonso retains admirers, because that was never in doubt. It is that Liverpoolās ownership still appear minded to continue with Slot.
As Pearce reports: āAlonso has a close bond with Liverpool and supporters would rally behind him. He did brilliantly at Bayer Leverkusen but his turbulent reign at Real Madrid only lasted seven months. He doesnāt have the same body of work that Klopp had 11 years ago.ā
That feels significant. Alonsoās Leverkusen work rightly elevated him into the elite coaching conversation, but Liverpool are not dealing in nostalgia alone. They are weighing evidence, sustainability and suitability. The Real Madrid spell, brief and difficult as it was, seems to have complicated the picture.
For many fans, Alonso represents something beautifully simple. He understands Liverpool, carries Anfield authority and would arrive with emotional capital already banked. Yet football appointments cannot be made purely on memory.
FSG supports Arne Slot as Liverpool's manager and sees him as the expected choice moving forward.
No, the prospect of Xabi Alonso replacing Arne Slot is not considered imminent according to recent reports.
Liverpool fans are drawn to Xabi Alonso due to his intelligence, elegance, and strong connection to the club.
Recent reporting from James Pearce has clarified FSG's backing of Arne Slot amid speculation about Xabi Alonso.

Arsenal players could earn £1.175 million if they win against PSG in the Champions League final.

Crystal Palace secured their first-ever European final with a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, winning 5-2 on aggregate in the Conference League semi-finals. They will face Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

Aston Villa dominates Nottingham Forest 4-0 to reach Europa League final!
Golden State Warriors' Podziemski to Address St. John's Northwestern Graduates
Florida basketball to join 23 other teams in 2026 Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas.
FIFA announces end of Panini World Cup sticker albums after 2030
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
Photo: IMAGO
Pearce adds: āCurrently, everything points to owner Fenway Sports Group sticking with Slot. If that position changes then Alonso would be a strong contender but contacts Iāve spoken to say thereās a misconception that the Spaniard was Liverpoolās first choice after Klopp stepped down two years ago.ā
That word, misconception, matters. For two years, the popular reading has been that Alonso was the great missed opportunity after Jurgen Kloppās departure. Pearceās reporting challenges that, suggesting Liverpoolās process was less sentimental and more structured than many assumed.
Liverpoolās modern decision making has rarely been about the loudest public clamour. It has been about models, metrics and internal conviction. That explains why Slot emerged so strongly in 2024.
Pearce writes: āThey insist that Alonso wasnāt seriously considered because he had already made it clear he would be staying at Leverkusen for another season. Slot consistently came out on top in the different metrics Liverpool used in their data-led search for Kloppās successor.ā
That does not mean Slot is beyond scrutiny. Liverpoolās standards do not allow any manager endless patience. But it does suggest that Fenway Sports Group view him as more than a placeholder. He was chosen for a reason, and unless that reasoning collapses, Alonso remains a future possibility rather than a present plan.
Alonsoās connection with Liverpool will not vanish. Nor should it. He remains one of those rare figures who feels connected to the clubās past and, potentially, its future.
But this update reframes the debate. The question is not whether Alonso would be welcomed. He would. The question is whether Liverpool believe the timing, evidence and strategic fit demand change now. At present, according to Pearce, they do not.
For supporters, that may feel frustrating. For the club, it may simply be discipline.
From a Liverpool fanās point of view, this report probably lands with mixed emotions. There is obvious affection for Xabi Alonso, and for good reason. He was a wonderful Liverpool player, he carries himself with class, and what he achieved at Bayer Leverkusen made supporters wonder whether destiny was beginning to line itself up neatly.
But there is also a hard truth here. Liverpool cannot afford to run the football club like a tribute act. If Arne Slot was selected through a data led process, then the club have to give that process proper time to breathe. That does not mean ignoring poor performances or pretending every concern is unfair. It means judging the manager with context, not simply replacing him because a beloved former player is available.
What stands out most is the suggestion that Alonso was not seriously considered in 2024 because he had already committed to Leverkusen. That punctures the idea that Liverpool somehow hesitated while greatness walked past the door. Maybe the story was always more complicated.
Still, fans will keep watching Alonso. That bond is real. If Slot struggles badly, the noise will return quickly. But for now, Liverpool seem committed to the path they chose. Supporters may not love every step, but clarity at least matters.