Xabi Alonso watch: What Liverpool fans learned from Bayer Leverkusen’s win over Koln

With the clock ticking down on Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool, all eyes are on his potential successor Xabi Alonso.

The ex-midfielder has put himself at the top of a number of clubs’ shortlists heading into the summer, with the Reds being particularly keen on his services.

Here’s what Liverpool fans learned about their potential next manager over the weekend…

Leverkusen were comfortable winners / Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/GettyImages

A team sitting pretty at the top of the table thanks to 19 wins in 23 games vs a team languishing in the relegation play-off spot having won just three games all season.

There was only ever going to be one winner.

And that winner became even more obvious when Koln’s Jan Thielmann received a straight red card in the 14th minute after a nasty looking challenge on Granit Xhaka.

Soon after, Alonso’s side took the lead through Jeremie Frimpong, before Alex Grimaldo rounded off the scoring the second half.

10 points adrift / Alexander Hassenstein/GettyImages

That win not only added three points to Leverkusen’s tally for the season, but also added two points to the gap between the Bundesliga leaders and Bayern Munich.

While Leverkusen have been thriving in recent weeks, Bayern have been struggling – drawing 2-2 with mid-table Freiburg on Friday night.

Now sitting a whopping ten points clear in the standings, surely this is the season that Leverkusen finally win the league title. Surely.

Superstar wing-back / Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/GettyImages

What makes Leverkusen’s season all the more remarkable is the fact that their two most potent offensive threats are their wing-backs.

Grimaldo and Frimpong score both goals at the weekend for Alonso’s side, taking their combined goal contribution tally to a rather ridiculous 32 in all competitions.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: imagine Trent Alexander-Arnold in a system that gives wing-backs this level of offensive freedom. He’d break every record imaginable.

Leverkusen have been impressing in Europe too / Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/GettyImages

After a period of playing just the one game per week, Leverkusen’s squad depth will be put to the test once again this coming week when they return to Europa League action.

Alonso’s side face a lengthy trip to Azerbaijan to go head-to-head with Qarabag FK in the round of 16 this week, and while they’re expected to win, the game and travel could have an effect on energy levels ahead of a tricky Bundesliga clash with WfL Wolfsburg on Sunday.

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