Former Liverpool star John Arne Riise shared his thoughts with GOAL on why Xabi Alonso chose Chelsea instead of the Merseyside club. According to him, if the Liverpool board had planned to part ways with Arne Slot, the Spanish tactician would certainly have waited for his former club. This is reported by Goal.com reports .
World champion Xabi Alonso is returning to the Premier League, but he will start his job at Stamford Bridge, not Anfield. The 44-year-old coach, who was unemployed after his 34-game stint at Real Madrid, will take charge of the London club from the summer of 2026. This decision surprised many, as Alonso has strong ties to Liverpool as a Champions League winner.
Riise explained this situation by noting that Arne Slot's position is currently secure. Although Liverpool made record transfers last season, they failed to achieve the expected results in the 2025-26 campaign. Nevertheless, the club's management continues to trust the Dutch coach.
"Xabi signing with Chelsea shows that Liverpool did not contact his representatives. If they had considered sacking Slot, they would have informed Alonso. I think Xabi would have waited if he knew there was an opportunity at Liverpool," says Riise.
Now, Xabi Alonso will work under great pressure to win the trust of Chelsea fans. Liverpool will continue to shape their game under Arne Slot. In Riise's opinion, Alonso's move to the London club is clear proof that the Merseysiders have no intention of changing coaches for now.
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