Xabi Alonso is set to give Arne Slot an awkward Liverpool encounter after the Spaniard's brutal summer snub for the head coach role.
The former Reds midfielder was the initial first-choice to take over from Jurgen Klopp following a remarkable campaign in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, yet he opted to remain with the Bundesliga champions.
Slot was instead selected as Klopp's successor after building up a good report in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and has since won his first two games in charge.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher calls on Liverpool to change badge after fan complaints
READ MORE: Federico Chiesa opens up on Liverpool battle with Mohamed Salah after Arne Slot chat
However, the two will go head-to-head later this year when Liverpool entertain Leverkusen in the league phase of the revamped Champions League format, having been matched-up during Thursday's historic draw .
The Reds will also take on current holders Real Madrid at Anfield , as well as Lille and Bologna, while there will be trips to RB Leipzig, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven and Girona.
But that home tie against Leverkusen, which is yet to be given an official date, presents an opportunity for Alonso to provide an awkward reunion with the Reds at Anfield, as well as the club's new manager.
If the German league and cup winners manage to walk away from Merseyside with all three points, it could create quite the uncomfortable scenario for Liverpool and Slot given that Alonso snubbed the chance to be considered for the Liverpool job before the Dutchman's appointment.
Not only would the Liverpool hierarchy see their initial first-choice beat their second-choice, but Slot would also have to deal with the fact he had lost to a man who the Reds reportedly wanted before him.
However, despite Leverkusen's dominance in Germany last season, the Reds are still likely to head into the tie as favorites, especially on home soil. Nonetheless, this will pose as a tough test for Liverpool and if last season is anything to go by, Leverkusen simply doesn't know when it's beaten.
It will represent the first competitive meeting between the two sides in almost two decades, having failed to cross paths since the last 16 of the Champions League in 2005. Following a 3-1 victory at Anfield during the first leg, the Reds then repeated the same scoreline two weeks later to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool has enjoyed a 100 per cent winning start to the 2024-25 campaign after two wins from two Premier League outings under Slot, beating Ipswich Town and Brentford by the same 2-0 scoreline to record maximum points.
As for Leverkusen, it has continued where it left off last season by winning the German Super Cup and kicking off its Bundesliga title defense with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend.
Most Popular
Comments / 0