Xabi Alonso channelled his inner Jurgen Klopp with his celebration after Bayer Leverkusen hammered Bayern Munich to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Bayer recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over the defending German champions, with Josip Stanisic, Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong all scoring.
After the match, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky ushered Xabi Alonso over to the home supporters and the Spaniard duly obliged, also taking his backroom staff with him to soak up the applause.
🎩 After beating Bayern, Xabi Alonso didn’t want to get honored alone by the fans……and he wanted his entire staff on the pitch in front of the fans.pic.twitter.com/zBDnucCTVf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 11, 2024
Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summer, and fans of the Anfield club will have enjoyed seeing that reaction from Alonso having become accustomed to having a brilliant relationship with their team’s manager during Klopp’s time on Merseyside.
Klopp said he loves ‘everything about our supporters’ in his departure announcement in January, and Liverpool fans will be hoping for a similar relationship with the German’s successor.
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Speaking after news of Klopp’s impending departure emerged in January, Alonso was asked about the prospect of replacing him in the Reds’ dugout.
“I have huge respect for Jurgen and Liverpool,” Alonso said. “At the moment I am really happy here and enjoying my work. Each day and game is a challenge. We are in an intense and beautiful journey here at Leverkusen.
“Speculation is normal, but I have great respect and admiration for what Jurgen has done at Liverpool in the last nine years, and how he’s done it. He has a connection with the fans, he’s done a great job, but my focus is here at Bayer Leverkusen.
“I have great motivation to do a good job here, I’m very happy with the team, with the club, with everything, so that’s my focus. “