The finest tribute to Xabi Alonso, Arne Slot wrote in his programme notes, “is to be the best Liverpool that we can possibly be with no quarter asked and no quarter given.” His team obliged ruthlessly, not so much rolling out the red carpet for the former Anfield favourite as pulling it from under Bayer Leverkusen and sending the German champions sprawling.
On the final whistle it was Slot’s name that rang out from the Kop, then Alonso’s. It was Liverpool’s tribute to the man who did get the job that Alonso was touted for, and his outstanding work so far. The Liverpool head coach has presided over a remarkable 14 victories from 16 matches in charge, a record for a new Premier League manager, and his team now sit top of both the Champions League table and the English top flight.
