Liverpool are flying ever so excessive this season, however kind is constructed upon a home of playing cards in soccer and there’s loads of motion left to play this time period.
Arne Slot has gained 12 of his 14 matches throughout all competitions and now turns again towards the Champions League, having gained all three fixtures up to now. Now, although, a unique check altogether: Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen journey to the Reds’ dwelling.
Earlier within the yr, should you have been advised that Alonso can be returning to Anfield after the summer time, you would be washed via with pleasure, for the Spaniard was touted as Jurgen Klopp’s successor for a short time, earlier than pledging his loyalty to Leverkusen for the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
He does certainly return to Merseyside, however as Slot’s opponent for the night in a hotly-anticipated Champions League conflict.
Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield
Alonso produced absurd outcomes final season, main Leverkusen to their maiden Bundesliga title as invincibles, additionally successful the DFB-Pokal and reaching the ultimate of the Europa League, dropping 3-0 in opposition to Atalanta in what was the agonising sole defeat of the marketing campaign.
Naturally, Liverpool have been serious about bringing their former participant again to town, however the 42-year-old needed to proceed his journey in Germany, and you’ll’t begrudge him for that.
Possibly sooner or later, eh? Alonso was as soon as a centrepiece of Liverpool’s first crew, finishing a £10.5m transfer from Actual Sociedad in August 2004 and that includes 210 instances for the membership, essential within the historic Champions League conquer AC Milan in 2005.
The hyperlinks are sturdy, and the love runs deep. The maestro of a midfielder was one of many best to carry out in a Liverpool shirt, and when he was offered to Actual Madrid for £30m in 2009, changing him with a prime participant was crucial.
That did not occur, for Alberto Aquilani – described because the participant ‘to fill Xabi Alonso’s berth’ by the Guardian – endured a torrid time on Merseyside.
First Impressions
What did pundits and followers alike take into consideration their new star signing after they arrived? Soccer FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ collection has every little thing you want.
Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso successor
Liverpool signed Aquilani within the wake of Alonso’s departure having been impressed by his performances with Roma in Italy. It was a deal price £20m, a fairly penny for the membership on the time.
Rafa Benitez praised the Italian for his “successful mentality” and “good expertise” within the Serie A and within the Champions League, however he did not impress and lasted just one time period at Liverpool, a season which was stuffed with adversity and issue.
“Alberto has a successful mentality and nice expertise in each Serie A and the Champions League. He has lengthy been recognised as a top-class expertise in Italy.” – Benitez
Typically you simply have to just accept that issues did not work out. Aquilani is one participant amongst many who did not impress all through a tricky level in Liverpool’s historical past, however the membership’s astute enterprise over the previous decade has put such woes firmly past the background.
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Alberto Aquilani: Stats for Liverpool |
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|---|---|
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Stats |
# |
|
Appearances |
28 |
|
Begins |
14 |
|
Objectives |
2 |
|
Assists |
6 |
|
Yellow playing cards |
1 |
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Stats through Transfermarkt |
|
A gifted and dynamic midfielder, the Italian’s one marketing campaign at Liverpool was marred by health troubles. Most frequently discovered within the infirmary, his time was that of disappointment, with an ankle harm precluding any probabilities of taking Alonso’s baton.
The 40-year-old spent his second and third seasons as a Liverpool participant on mortgage in his homeland, with Juventus and AC Milan respectively. He didn’t have that indefinable high quality that served him so effectively earlier than the entire ordeal, nonetheless, and was offered to Fiorentina for simply £6m in 2012, ending a completely forgettable deal.
Signed to fill an Alonso-shaped gap, Aquilani fell closely by the wayside. Had health been his buddy, it may need been completely different.
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