Xabi Alonso Responds to Liverpool Speculation After Being Named Favorite to Replace Jurgen Klopp As Manager

Xabi Alonso has emerged as the overwhelming early favorite to be the next Liverpool manager following Jurgen Klopp's announcement that he will stand down.

Xabi Alonso has emerged as the overwhelming early favorite to be the next Liverpool manager following Jurgen Klopp's announcement that he will stand down from the role at the end of the season.

Klopp shocked the football world on Friday when he revealed that the 2023/24 campaign will be his last at Anfield.

But football moves fast. So after digesting the contents of Liverpool's 1,231-word statement, focus quickly turned to who might replace Klopp.

It did not take long for the bookmakers to draw up a list of potential candidates and Alonso was at the very top.

Next Liverpool Manager: Betting Odds

Manager	Current Club	Best Odds
Xabi Alonso	Leverkusen	-150
Robert De Zerbi	Brighton	+900
Pepijn Lijnders	Liverpool (assistant)	+1000
Marco Rose	RB Leipzig	+1200
Julian Nagelsmann	No club	+1400
Zinedine Zidane	No club	+1600
Erik ten Hag	Man United	+2000
Ange Postecoglou	Tottenham	+2200
Luis Enrique	PSG	+2500
Thomas Tuchel	Bayern Munich	+2500
Steven Gerrard	Al-Ettifaq	+2500
Diego Simeone	Atletico Madrid	+2500

Alonso would certainly be a popular appointment among Liverpool's fans.

The former midfielder spent five seasons at Anfield as a player between 2004 and 2009.

He made 210 first-team appearances for the Reds and won the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup with the club.

Alonso is currently in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, who lead Bayern Munich by four points after 18 rounds of fixtures in this season's Bundesliga.

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is the early favorite to replace Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool job :: IMAGO/Sven Simon

The 42-year-old attended a press conference on the eve of Saturday's home game against Borussia Monchengladbach.

However, that match was not the main topic on the agenda for many of the reporters present.

Alonso was hit with multiple questions about Friday's breaking news from Liverpool.

One journalist asked Alonso if he would consider leaving Leverkusen for Liverpool in the future.

Alonso replied: "Well first of all, yeah it [Klopp's decision to step down at the end of the season] was a surprise.

"But as well I have huge respect for Jurgen, huge admiration before coming to Liverpool and during this year it has even been bigger and it has grown what he has achieved and the way he has achieved that.

"And at the moment I am really happy here. I am enjoying my work here. I am feeling that each day it is a challenge.

"Each game is a challenge and we are in an intense and a beautiful journey here in Leverkusen and I am trying to give my best to help my players be ready for the next thing and that's my goal. What will happen [in the future], I don't know."

Alonso pictured playing for Liverpool during the 2008/09 season :: IMAGO/Sportimage

Alonso - who is under contract with Leverkusen until June 2026 - added: "To be honest, I am not in that moment to think about the next step, I'm thinking about where I am right now.

"And I think that I am in a great place and I am enjoying and I think it's the right place.

"So that's all I can say... My place is what's going to [happen] on Saturday to be honest because that's what really matters and I'm going to be happy when we are playing well and we deserve to win.

"And what's going to happen in the future, I don't know and I don't really care at the moment."