Xabi Alonso's former teammate campaigns to get him Liverpool job

Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool as Arne Slot continues to come under pressure at Anfield, and one of his former teammates has given him his backing

Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool after being fired by Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)

Xabi Alonso’s former teammate Javi Martinez has made the case for him to take over from Arne Slot at Liverpool.

Having been fired by Real Madrid earlier this month, Alonso has seen his name being linked with a return to Anfield as Slot continues to come under pressure.

Although Liverpool secured its safe passage through to the last-16 of the Champions League with a resounding 6-0 win over Qarabag on Wednesday, the Reds’ poor Premier League form has seen the heat being turned up on Slot, with their hopes of defending last season’s title already long gone and a top four spot far from assured.

With just five wins from his last 18 league games in charge, Slot is coming under pressure from some supporters - and he hasn’t helped himself with some of his recent comments either.

As such, speculation has been growing that Alonso could take over from him soon, and Martinez - who played alongside him for Bayern Munich and Spain - has given his former teammate his backing.

“It’s normal that some names come on the table,” Martinez told beIN Sports. “I heard also about Xabi Alonso, not from him - I’m not saying anything!”

Xabi Alonso has been tipped to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Asked whether he thinks Alonso would be a good fit at Liverpool, Martinez responded: “Yeah I think so. I think the team and Liverpool needs a change.

“Xabi Alonso is a young coach, he brings a lot of new things. It’s like the ‘Pep school’, how he likes to play, the way the Cesc Fabregas, Pep [Guardiola], this new school.

“I think it would be a perfect match in Xabi Alonso and Liverpool.”

Despite being fired by Real after less than eight months in charge, Alonso’s reputation doesn’t seem to have been damaged too much.

The 44-year-old was dismissed following defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, although his exit had been on the cards for a while amid growing tensions with some members of his squad.

“Yeah, I don’t know what happened,” Martinez said on Alonso’s time at the Bernabeu. “I didn’t speak to him, I sent a message but he didn’t answer!

“It was sure that he would be a success at Real Madrid, [but] Real Madrid is a special club. I’m sure if you bring Pep Guardiola in, he would not be successful.

“I think, for example, we saw with [Jose] Mourinho, he managed much better with the club, [Carlo] Ancelotti for example. I think they play better when the coach gives more freedom.”