Liverpool has moved on swiftly from Xabi Alonso and is currently pursuing a preferred managerial target.

Liverpool has moved on swiftly from Xabi Alonso and is currently pursuing a preferred managerial target.

Following the news that Xabi Alonso will remain at Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool has appointed a new manager as the team makes plans.

What a waste of a Good Friday. Given the news that Xabi Alonso would most likely not take over as manager of Liverpool, that is, at least, how those who were completely on board with him will have felt.

For a lot of Reds fans, Alonso was the ideal combination of pragmatic and passionate. Regardless of any prior ties to the club, his great record in an admittedly limited time as coach at Bayer Leverkusen would have put him high on the Anfield wishlist. His successful five-year tenure as a player means there would have been little trouble getting the fans behind him.

But unless the Spaniard does a stunning 180-degree flip, any transfer to Liverpool will have to wait, dash the hopes of many who couldn’t see past the former midfield player returning to his old haunts.

Alonso’s choice to stay at Leverkusen is commendable in certain aspects. It demonstrates not only his determination to stick with a career that he obviously feels is barely getting started, but also his refusal to be moved by larger clubs simply batting an eyelash at him.

Both Alonso and his current team—which, who knows, might one day be Liverpool—will gain from his patience and clear confidence in his ability to land better roles later in his career.

Naturally, some may believe that Alonso is limited to what Leverkusen can accomplish, especially if they win the domestic double this year, and that he would be better off trying his abilities at a more prestigious club. But the prospect of continuing to hone his managerial skills in the Champions League next season, away from the burden of being one of the favourites, would undoubtedly be alluring. He will also be able to explore the full potential of his Leverkusen team.

All of that, though, is currently irrelevant to Liverpool, who have long since realised it would be challenging to convince Alonso to leave Leverkusen. Ever since Jurgen Klopp announced his resignation in January, the Reds have been making

All of that, though, is currently irrelevant to Liverpool, who have long since realised it would be challenging to convince Alonso to leave Leverkusen. Since Jurgen Klopp announced his resignation in January, the Reds have been working hard to get closer to

With the hiring of Michael Edwards as the football chief executive of Fenway Sports Group earlier this month and the subsequent confirmation of Richard Hughes as the Reds’ next sporting director, that quest picked more speed. They are at the head of the chase.

Nor have the other names under consideration changed. Roberto De Zerbi, whose Brighton team will be at Anfield on Sunday, is still a contender because of his Premier League experience, which is considered a significant advantage.

However, Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is currently the preferred candidate because of his playing style and Portuguese success, which have attracted interest from other teams. Liverpool knows they can’t afford to waste time if they determine Amorim is the right man, especially because teams like Bayern Munich and Barcelona are looking to hire new managers this summer.

Whoever takes over will, however, be in a unique position for a new Liverpool manager because they will be joining from the outside and inheriting a squad that is growing rather than in decline. The only other times a successful team has been passed down have been through the renowned boot room succession of Kenny Dalglish, Joe Fagan, and Bob Paisley.

Similar to how many were shocked to learn of Klopp’s exit, Alonso’s many supporters will eventually accept that he won’t be seated in the home dugout at Anfield anytime soon. Liverpool has moved on, and curiosity over their potential new manager has only grown. However, time is running out.