Today is the day. Xabi Alonso He returns this Tuesday to Anfield, which was his home, as a player, between 2004 and 2009, before signing for real Madrid. He returns to the helm of Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga last season (the BayArena club’s first) and the German Cup, to face the Liverpool on day 4 of the new Champions League.
Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai or Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz
coaches: Arne Slott
The
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Terrier or Hofmann; Boniface
Replacements: Xabi Alonso
The
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Xabi Alonso, who scored Liverpool’s third goal in the Champions League final of the so-called ‘miracle of Istanbul’, on May 25, 2005 when the ‘reds’, down 3-0 at half-time, hit (3- 3) and beat Milan on penalties, he was even considered this summer to succeed Jürgen Klopp, but preferred to stay at Leverkusen. Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new coach, knows Xabi Alonso’s return will be special. “And what makes Xabi Alonso special is that, without big signings, he achieved everything he achieved last season,” said Klopp’s successor.
Slot, with Premier League leader Liverpool, can count on Ibrahima Konaté and said “we have to play better than recently.”
Xabi Alonso (whose team is now 4th in the Bundesliga, 7 points behind leader Bayern) said “it’s great to be back, for me it’s always special to be in Liverpool.” The Basque coach said the progress of the ‘red’ club “has been incredible and there is nothing better than a Champions League match at Anfield.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
