Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has stirred the pot with a bold claim about his former teammate Xabi Alonso, suggesting the Bayer Leverkusen boss would "love to manage Liverpool" and would jump at the chance to return to Anfield if the opportunity arose.

The speculation comes as pressure mounts on current Reds head coach Arne Slot, with Alonso widely tipped as a potential successor. Despite reports from multiple reliable sources indicating that FSG plans to stick with the Dutchman, Carragher believes Alonso's heart remains tied to Merseyside.

"I think he would love to manage Liverpool one day, I'm sure he would," Carragher said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. "But Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in European football right now."

The pundit's comments come amid reports that Alonso could be tempted to become Chelsea's next permanent manager, following Liam Rosenior's departure. However, Carragher insists the Spaniard's priority would be Liverpool—if he sensed genuine interest from the Anfield hierarchy.

"There will be a feeling from a lot of Liverpool supporters that Xabi Alonso's there and, if we want him, I think he would come to us because there is history with the club," Carragher added. "But it looks like the club have made their decision on Slot. What tells you they've made their decision on Slot is that there's talks between Xabi Alonso and Chelsea. If there was an inkling that Liverpool were interested in him or that they were gonna change the manager, I think he would go to Liverpool."

Alonso, who won the Champions League and FA Cup during his playing days at Liverpool, has established himself as one of Europe's most promising young managers after guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a historic domestic double last season. For Liverpool fans dreaming of a homecoming, Carragher's words offer plenty of food for thought—but for now, the club appears to be riding with Slot.