By Ireti Asemota.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is set to return to Anfield on Tuesday to face his former club Liverpool in the Champions League, following an almost flawless start to life in Spain’s capital.
While Premier League heavyweights Liverpool have struggled with just two victories in their last eight matches, Alonso’s Madrid are riding high, transformed from last season and showing steady improvement under the Basque tactician.
The 15-time European champions claimed a memorable win over La Liga rivals Barcelona last weekend and are eager to assert themselves once again against Arne Slot’s Liverpool. Their only defeat this campaign came in a 5-2 derby loss to Atletico Madrid, but since then, Alonso’s side have developed rapidly.
Many Liverpool supporters once hoped Alonso might succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield when the German announced his departure at the end of the 2023/24 season. Elegant on the ball and a cerebral presence in midfield, Alonso was a key figure in Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul and also lifted the FA Cup before moving to Real Madrid in 2009.
After a year at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso returned to Madrid to take over from Carlo Ancelotti, following a trophyless season for Los Blancos. The Spaniard has made an immediate impact, guiding Madrid to 13 wins in 14 matches so far.
Under Alonso, Madrid have become more defensively disciplined. While Ancelotti struggled to make his star-studded attack press effectively, Alonso’s side have shown greater intensity off the ball, making them tougher to break down. “To win trophies, you have to defend well and keep plenty of clean sheets,” Alonso noted after Madrid secured their seventh shutout of the season in a 4-0 victory over Valencia.
Spanish media have praised Alonso’s influence, claiming Madrid have “forged a new identity” and now “dominate, suffocate, and subdue their opponents”—a stark contrast to the lethargy of Ancelotti’s final season.
Alonso has also demonstrated tactical flexibility, willing to make adjustments during matches, whereas Ancelotti’s team were more predictable. He opted to train at home before traveling to Merseyside, keeping Liverpool in the dark about his strategy. “It’s my decision not to train at Anfield. We prefer to stay in our own space, so they don’t have 200 cameras on us,” he explained.
Stars Rising
Alonso has maximized the potential of his key players, with only minor hiccups. Winger Vinicius Junior displayed frustration after being substituted in the Clasico, but the situation was managed quietly and resolved. He bounced back to deliver an impressive performance against Valencia.
Kylian Mbappe continues to shine, building on a strong finish to last season. Already with 18 goals across all competitions, he has also added defensive pressing to his game under Alonso’s guidance.
England’s Jude Bellingham is another player flourishing under Alonso. After recovering from shoulder surgery, Bellingham gradually returned to form, scoring against Barcelona, Juventus, and Valencia, and emerging as a central figure in Madrid’s midfield.
Turkish playmaker Arda Guler is also being shaped into a creative midfield force capable of filling the void left by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
As Alonso prepares to face Liverpool, he is intent on making his return to Anfield a challenging one for his former club, demonstrating that his Real Madrid side is now a team built in his image—aggressive, resilient, and capable of competing for major trophies once more.
