Liverpool face Galatasaray needing to overturn 1-0 Champions League deficit as Xabi Alonso emerges as potential successor to Arne Slot and Paul Scholes blames Florian Wirtz for Reds struggles
Liverpool will set aside their Premier League troubles as they strive to overcome Galatasaray and advance in the Champions League. The Reds will be banking on Arne Slot’s strategic prowess to navigate the round-of-16 encounter.
The Turkish heavyweights have a narrow 1-0 advantage over Liverpool from the first leg, courtesy of Mario Lemina, fuelling hopes of making it to the quarter-finals.
However, Slot will be determined to reverse this, and seasoned defender Andy Robertson is confident his squad can stage a comeback. And here, Daily Star Sport brings you the latest headlines from Anfield.
Xabi Alonso claim
Xabi Alonso is widely regarded as the prime candidate for Liverpool should they decide to part ways with Slot. The Athletic suggests that Alonso would “probably take the job” if offered in the summer and he’s certainly in the running for the role, reports the Mirror.
Slot has endured a difficult second campaign at Anfield following his Premier League triumph in his debut year. Liverpool currently languish in fifth place in the Prem table, with only the FA Cup and Champions League remaining as realistic opportunities for silverware this season.
Defeats to Manchester United, Wolves, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have undermined their title defence, and supporters have started demanding Slot’s dismissal. Alonso has been mooted as a potential replacement for the Dutchman should he receive his marching orders.
Paul Scholes points finger of blame
Paul Scholes has blamed Florian Wirtz for Liverpool’s transformation into a possession-based team. The former United star believes that Anfield has become an easier place to visit for teams due to this tactical switch.
Following a last-minute draw with Tottenham at the weekend, Scholes criticised the lack of press and intensity in the team and pointed to Wirtz as an example. Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, he said: “Anfield was always the toughest place to go.
“Jamie Carragher mentioned it loads of times, you had the fans on top of you and the players on top of you. They’ve lost that determination to stop the other team. It’s just not there any more. They’ve become almost a possession-based team.
“Florian Wirtz is a brilliant, brilliant footballer, but I think he’s made them more into a possession team. I think under Klopp and probably under past managers as well at Liverpool, the last thing they’re thinking about at home is playing football.
“They’re just thinking about kicking the s*** out of you and steamrolling you and stopping you from playing. Now this last year and a half it’s become probably one of the easiest places to play and you’d never say that about Anfield.”