Liverpool news: Arne Slot told Mo Salah is right as Xabi Alonso regret fear raised

View 4 Images

Arne Slot may have the backing of Liverpool hierarchy for now but the news that Xabi Alonso could be set to take the Chelsea job has irked sections of the club's support. Slot has come in for heavy criticism this season with Liverpool stuttering to a top-five finish.

The Dutchman still has credit in the bank for his stunning Premier League title win last season, no doubt. Yet going without silverware this year, complete with 11 defeats so far in the league, has led some fans to call for change.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea saw Anfield react angrily, with a deafening chorus of boos greeting Slot , his staff and players at the final whistle.

Liverpool legend Alonso has long been on the wish list of many supporters should the club seek a new man in charge, and today's news sees a club icon warn the Reds of the risk of missing out on the Spaniard to their rivals. Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah has been backed by a Premier League legend after his most recent comments.

Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool that they may rue missing out on appointing Xabi Alonso if he moves to Chelsea . The Blues sacked Liam Rosenior , three months into a six-year contract, in April.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

They have reportedly identified Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva and ex-Real Madrid manager Alonso as leading candidates. Ex- Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso moved to Real last summer but departed just after the turn of the year , and the Blues could offer him a route back into management.

View 4 Images

"I always felt Xabi would manage Liverpool at some stage," Carragher said. "Now, I think once you manage one of Liverpool's rivals, as Chelsea are, I think it makes it a little bit more difficult.

"I don't see how you go from Chelsea to Liverpool, maybe a bit down the road, but I think it makes it more difficult. But he has to do what's best for him right now, and I think there will be Liverpool supporters right now looking at that situation thinking, 'That's the one we want.'"

Speaking on Monday Night Football , the former Liverpool defender also claimed Alonso would choose his old club over Chelsea, should the decision arise.

“I think he would love to manage Liverpool one day, I’m sure he would, but Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in European football right now," he said.

View 4 Images

“There will be a feeling from a lot of Liverpool supporters that Xabi Alonso’s there and, if we want him, I think he would come to us because there is history with the club, but it looks like the club have made their decision on Slot.

“What tells you they’ve made their decision on Slot is that there’s talks between Xabi Alonso and Chelsea. If there was an inkling that Liverpool were interested in him or that they were gonna change the manager, I think he would go to Liverpool.”

Former Liverpool star Joe Cole believes Salah was right to insist that standards should be upheld at Anfield once he leaves the club this summer. The winger's comments were interpreted as a criticism of the current culture at L4.

Arne Slot pushed back on the remarks before Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Cole told Paddy Power: "Salah is well within his rights to have an opinion on the team. He’s been there for so long. Mo’s a good guy, I’m sure his comments were coming from a good place to help Liverpool.

“Sometimes when players say things it can come from frustration with the manager. Things aren’t going well for him on the pitch for the first time in a decade, he’s been that good a player.

View 4 Images

“But I think he’s correct. It looks like there aren't the same personalities in the team as they once had [to set those standards] and that needs to be addressed in the summer.

“You need to look at this whole season in context of everything that has happened on and off the pitch. From the dreadful Diogo Jota situation, [Alexander] Isak’s saga in the summer and his injury, Hugo Ekitike’s injury and also Mo Salah ’s dip in form. They need to start next season by drilling down on the culture and getting back to what Liverpool are as a club.”

Salah claimed Liverpool needed those who would ensure the club's high standards are met behind the scenes when he departs, telling Sky Sports : "I just want to have that standard at the club because it is very, very important for people to keep winning things. This is one of the main concerns for me."

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.