Liverpool legend John Barnes says he isn’t surprised Xabi Alonso chose to take over as Chelsea boss, given the problems Arne Slot is now facing following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Despite winning the Premier League in his first season, Slot has come in for fearful abuse from supporters after a disappointing title defence that ended with Liverpool finishing fifth.
Alonso who ruled himself out of the race to succeed Klopp in 2024 was heavily linked with replacing Slot this summer had FSG chosen to sack the Dutchman. But the Spaniard accepted the invitation to take over at Chelsea next season, having been out of work since Real Madrid sacked him in January after barely six months in charge.
Barnes believes the shadow of the Klopp era continues to loom over Liverpool and contributed to Alonso’s move to Stamford Bridge.
‘It’s like Ferguson at Manchester United’
“I don’t think it’s a shock at all because when you look at what Jurgen Klopp created at Liverpool, it’s a bit like what Sir Alex Ferguson created at Manchester United, where any manager coming in is going to be judged against what they did,” Barnes told betfred.com.
“So if Xabi had come back to Liverpool there would have been huge pressure. At Chelsea I think he’ll get more time than he would have had at Liverpool.”
The Salah post that said everything
Barnes added: “I’m a fan of Arne Slot, but Xabi probably looks at that situation and thinks who wants to go to Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp because as we’ve seen from Mo Salah’s social post, the players are invested in Jurgen’s way of playing football.
“So Xabi going to Chelsea doesn’t surprise me.”
The bottom line
Salah’s social media post. The Klopp shadow. The Ferguson comparison.
Barnes has put his finger on why Alonso said no to Liverpool twice. First in 2024, then again this summer.
Chelsea offer a clean slate. Liverpool offer a never ending comparison to a legend.
Slot is finding that out the hard way. Alonso saw it coming. And that’s why he’s heading to Stamford Bridge, not Anfield.
