Xabi Alonso will return to Anfield tonight for the first time as a manager having been linked with a return to Liverpool in the summer

Xabi Alonso, head coach of Bayer Leverkusen(Image: Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

Former Liverpool playmaker Xabi Alonso became a fan favourite at Anfield having helped the Reds win the Champions League back in 2005.

The Spanish international scored the Reds' third goal in a dramatic turnaround, with Rafa Benitez's side trailing 3-0 to a star studded AC Milan side at half-time.



Liverpool turned the game on its head in the second-half, with Steven Gerrard and Vladimir Smicer reducing the deficit just before the hour mark, with Alonso restoring parity in a crazy seven minute turnaround.

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The Reds would win the tie on penalties, with Alonso helping write Liverpool's name in the history books.

He'd move to Real Madrid and establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, helping Spain win the World Cup and two European Championships.

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During his time with Los Blancos, Alonso won another Champions League title and just about everything there is to win in Spain, before linking up with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, becoming a three-time Bundesliga title winner.

The classy midfielder would hang up his boots in 2017, but wasted no time in choosing his next walk of life.

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Alonso took charge of Real Sociedad's B-team, returning to the Basque region of Spain, before taking over at Bayer Leverkusen in 2022.

Alonso was linked with a move to Anfield following Jurgen Klopp's departure from the club earlier this summer, but he's since clarified that speculation.

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Xabi Alonso, head coach of Bayer Leverkusen(Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

"At that time I was focused, I had a big thing with the Leverkusen players and we were really focused on that," Alonso revealed at his pre-match press conference ahead of his return to Anfield with Leverkusen.

We'll see."

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Alonso returns to Anfield for the first time as a manager on Tuesday evening and still has a fond memory of the atmosphere in L4.

"It feels great to be back after a few years.