Xabi Alonso will manage a European night at Anfield but not the way we expected

When Jurgen Klopp made the shock announcement that he would be stepping down from his role as the Manager of Liverpool Football Club, the rumor mill wasted little time firing up various candidates from all over the world.

Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann and Ruben Amorim were just some of the names lobbied about as possible options for the Reds. Amorim seemingly came close to the gig but it never materialized.

However, the one name that made the most sense was a young coach that was in the midst of what would become an "Invincible" season in German domestic action, Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso.

It made almost too much sense that Alonso would get offered the job and take over the reigns at Anfield as he already understood the culture around the club and what it meant to win here.

Xabi Alonso was a perfect fit at the wrong time

However, as it would turn out, the opportunity to manage Liverpool came even faster than the most hopeful candidates would have expected. It was for one of these reasons that Alonso wanted to stay with Leverkusen as he felt he still had room to grow as a coach.

Fair play to the man, it made logical sense and FSG eventually settled on Arne Slot from Feyenoord, and as we have seen so far, it has been an outstanding start to life under the Dutchman.

The timing was not right for Alonso to take the reigns, but so far Slot has looked like a dream hire and Bayer got to keep the hottest young coach in the sport. It was one of those rare times where everyone won in the end.

The current iteration of Liverpool would have certainly thrived in his system which is very beautiful to watch and it would have been interesting to see how he would have managed the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

He arrives back at Anfield as an adversary

Of curse, as the footballing universe would have it, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen were drawn against each other in the Champions League this season, bringing together the club and beloved former player in a unique fashion.

Slot has his side playing outstanding football and we have figured out several different ways to get results while Alonso has Leverkusen sit 4th in the Bundesliga with only one defeat, but four draws from nine matches played.

In the UCL, Liverpool have a maximum 9 points while Bayer sit on a solid 7, so this match will see two teams in fine form clashing in what should be a wonderful affair for the neutral viewer.

I have no doubt that Xabi Alonso will receive a warm reception from the Anfield faithful as he was nothing but respectful in our pursuit of him last spring, but the energy should shift at kickoff.

I fully expect one of the most fully charged Liverpool crowds that we have seen in awhile as there are so many storylines to follow and the starpower, both on the touchline and on the pitch is fully evident.

Slot versus Alonso. Van Dijk versus Wirtz. Salah versus Grimaldo. There are going to be enticing matchups everywhere we look on the ptich. However, the return of Liverpool's former No. 14 to Merseyside will of course dominate the headlines.

Let's welcome him home with open arms, but send him away disappointed with a defeat.