After a star showing himself as captain of the Liverpool Legends on Saturday, Xabi Alonso was jokingly asked if he would replace as part of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.
Alonso wore the captain’s armband as Liverpool beat their Man United counterparts 2-1 at Anfield, with goals from Mark Gonzalez and Florent Sinama-Pongolle canceling out an early goal from Dimitar Berbatov.
The Spaniard showed his class at all times, proving that age is just a number for a player of his technique, controlling the game from midfield.
It led to tongue-in-cheek claims that he could still slot into the current first-team midfield, which has been plagued by injuries this season with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones still out.
But speaking to LFCTV after the charity friendly, Alonso laughed off the suggestions, insisting that Klopp “has plenty to choose from!”
“They will come back. I really like the players they have in midfield,” he explained.
“I love Thiago, he is a great friend of mine, Fabinho, Hendo.
“Once they get that engine back, everything, the defense, the forwards, [will improve]they have the quality.
“Liverpool has a ‘freak mentality’ machine at the moment.”
The 40-year-old may no longer be a viable option as a player, but he is carving out a career as a young manager while seizing opportunities to represent Liverpool wherever possible.
Of course, there could be a chance he finally sits on the bench at Anfield, with Alonso showing his affinity for the club and the “best stadium in the world”.
“It’s different,” he continued.
“You have great stadiums all over the world, great atmospheres, Champions League nights, but this is Anfield.
“The soul, the stands, the lights, it’s different and it’s pure football. That’s why we love it.
“As a player, as a fan, anyone who comes… you fall in love.”
