Liverpool fans hoping for a fairytale return of Xabi Alonso to Anfield may need to temper their expectations. According to Independent journalist Miguel Delaney, the Reds have not reached out to the Spanish manager—despite persistent rumors linking him to the job.

In his ‘Inside Football’ newsletter, Delaney revealed that Liverpool’s hierarchy firmly believes Arne Slot remains the superior choice for the club, citing data and other performance metrics. However, that stance is likely to raise eyebrows among supporters, especially after a season that has left many questioning the Dutchman's tenure.

The frustration reached a boiling point on Friday night when Liverpool suffered a demoralizing 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa—their 12th Premier League loss of the 2025-26 campaign. That result pushed the Reds down to fifth place in the table, with 52 goals conceded in 37 league matches, their worst defensive record in a 38-game Premier League season. To make matters worse, Champions League qualification is now hanging by a thread: Liverpool must avoid defeat against Brentford at Anfield next Sunday, while hoping Bournemouth slip up in their final two matches against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.

Slot’s underwhelming campaign has turned the Anfield faithful restless. Boos were heard after last weekend’s draw with Chelsea, and calls for his dismissal have grown louder with each passing defeat.

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso—who masterminded Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023-24—is reportedly closing in on a return to English football, but not with Liverpool. The former Real Madrid midfielder, who won 89 of his 140 matches in charge of Leverkusen, is instead being tipped to take over as Chelsea’s next permanent manager.