Arne Slot gave coach Xavi Alonso Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) 'True Education'
Liverpool won 4-0 at home in the fourth round of the European Champions League (UCL) league phase of 2024-2025 season against Leverkusen at Anfield in Liverpool, England on the 6th (Korea time). Luis Diaz flew up. He made a hat-trick (three goals).
Diaz shook the net in the 16th, 38th and 47th minutes of extra time. Liverpool scored Cody Gakpo's goal in the 18th minute of the second half to complete the victory. Liverpool, which won all four games, ranked first in the UCL League phase. Liverpool is also leading the English Premier League (EPL) (25, 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss).
Even before the game, the competition for pride between the two coaches was interested. Alonso has been mentioned as Liverpool's No. 1 candidate for the next head coach since Jurgen Klopp declared he would leave last season.
The Spaniard spent five seasons with Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, scoring 19 goals in 210 appearances. As a leader, it was in full bloom last season. Alonso began his managerial career with Real Sociedad B in July 2019.
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Taking the helm of Leverkusen in October 2022, he toppled Bayern Munich's dynasties last season. He won his first unbeaten championship (28 wins and 6 draws) in the Bundesliga. He also wrote the legend of Leverkusen's unbeaten streak (42 wins and 9 draws) in 51 games.
Alonso decided to stay in Liverpool's courtship, and Liverpool appointed a Dutch slot manager who led Feyenoord. Slot began his coaching career at AZ Alkmaar in July 2019. However, it did not see the light of the coronavirus pandemic that hit the world, and was dismissed in December 2020.
At Alkmaar, however, he led 58 games to 32 wins, 16 draws and 10 losses, and in recognition of his potential, he took the helm of Feyenoord in July 2021. Slot soccer has appeared in the world in the 2022-2023 season. Feyenoord won the Eredivisie summit for the first time in six years since 2017. Last season, he finished second in the Eredivisie but lifted the trophy in the Dutch Cup.
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Tottenham hoped to replace Antonio Conte as slot manager last year. However, he agreed with Feyenoord to extend his one-year contract until June 2026. There were also voices that the slot manager reversely used Tottenham's interest to sign a better contract with Feyenoord. However, he did not resist Liverpool's offer.
The slot manager has sunk Alonso, proving Liverpool's choice was right. England's 'BBC' was only one name from the mouth of the majority of supporters when Klopp made the shocking announcement in January of this year that he was leaving Liverpool in the summer. It was Shavi Alonso. He is a former player who won the UCL and FA Cup in Liverpool. He led Leverkusen to an unbeaten season, winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup, becoming the most notable young coach in the world.' Slot continued his dream journey, surpassing Alonso at Anfield.
Liverpool fans shouted the slot manager's name to the point of deafening when he won against Leverkusen. The slot director said "We took more risks. Leverkusen overloaded the midfield, and we took the risk and played one-on-one "What I like is to keep producing this energy and going to higher gear up until now."
Alonso said, `The result is painful. The game is more painful. We lacked strength and consistency. Accept the defeat, congratulations to Liverpool"It's too early to say, but I think Liverpool has a very good balance and is a very perfect team. They have the power to maintain an important clean sheet (no goals lost) in UCL."
