Xabi Alonso Real Madrid exit comes at worst time for Arne Slot with icon already launching two Liverpool stars’ careers

JUST as Arne Slot started to stabilise his Liverpool reign, the ground may have begun to shift under his feet.

Slot knew when he took the Liverpool job that he was at best the second choice to succeed Jurgen Klopp.

First on the Liverpool list was Xabi Alonso.

A Champions League winner in red, whose managerial stock had soared in his spell at Bayer Leverkusen.

It was only when the Spaniard committed his future to the Bundesliga side that the Anfield outfit turned to Slot.

They were rewarded by the Dutchman leading what was effectively Klopp’s squad to the Prem crown last season.

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It meant that when Alonso did decide it was time for a new challenge, there was no way that Liverpool could even consider seeking to lure him to Merseyside.

In all probability, Madrid would have had first call in any event.

After all, his five years as a player at the Bernabeu meant he was as identified with Real, if not more so, then Liverpool.

Nobody would have envisaged that, after barely six months, Alonso would have been sent spinning out of the Madrid hotseat, replaced by former Anfield team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa, while Slot would have spent the thick end of £450million to make Liverpool far, far worse.

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Alonso’s reign in Spain has seen a series of private and public fall-outs with his senior stars, Brazilian Vinicius Jr in particular.

Support from Real President Florentino Perez evaporated swiftly as it became clear that the Madrid squad, used to the hands-off leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, were rebelling against the intensity of the Alonso regime.

It was a surprise when rumours of his imminent dismissal before last month’s Champions League defeat by Manchester City failed to materialise.

But losing the Spanish Super Cup Final to Barcelona of all clubs in Saudi Arabia – the 3-2 scoreline was not a true reflection of the Catalan side’s superiority – was the final straw, especially with the Nou Camp outfit four clear at the top of LaLiga.

Yet it is hard to believe Alonso will be out of a job for long.

That Leverkusen season, ending Bayern Munich’s decade of dominance, and the belief he built in a side including Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, was the sign of a man with a plan – and the courage to implement it.

Which is where Slot’s position has suddenly become less secure.

Liverpool committed £116m to land Wirtz and expect the manager should make the German schemer tick.

Alonso has demonstrated he can do it.

He knows the Premier League, too.

And now, if Liverpool are considering a change, he is available for nothing.