Liverpool vs Bayern Munich: Who should Xabi Alonso pick?

Xabi Alonso could find himself in the middle of a tug-of-war between Liverpool and Bayern

With Thomas Tuchel joining Jurgen Klopp in making a summer departure, both Bayern Munich and Liverpool are in the market for a new manager.

Bayer Leverkusen are still unbeaten, and top of the Bundesliga, so Xabi Alonso will have a decision to make if he is to leave to join either of his former clubs.

But which would be more appealing?

The Job

Both posts have different pulling power. He would be returning to where he is loved by fans, whether that is Liverpool or Bayern. And in the case of going back to Anfield, he would be following the toughest of acts after Klopp’s eight years at the club. As Manchester United have found, the next appointment after one of their greats is not easy. At Bayern, it would seem that the only way is up. Leon Goretzka described their season as a “horror movie that doesn’t end”. As a manager, there is a mess to sort out but any manager would back themselves to do it.

• Liverpool: 4 out of 5
• Bayern: 4.5 out of 5

The Prestige

There is kudos attached to succeeding in England, where the Premier League is so competitive and finishing in the top two is by no means guaranteed for any club. At Bayern, the pressures are different – you are expected to win every game and finish top. Bayern hold more titles (33) than Liverpool (19), but in a different domestic context. On the biggest stage, they both have been crowned European champions six times, with Bayern the most recent in 2020.

• Liverpool: 5/5
• Bayern: 4/5

Player power

On current form, Liverpool would fancy their chances of beating a Bayern team who have lost three matches in a row. Of course, Liverpool would look very different without Mohamed Salah, with bids from Saudi Arabia expected in the summer. There is work to be done on the squad, such as buying a centre-back. At Bayern, there are still a few years left of Harry Kane at the top of his game, but Joshua Kimmich’s future appears uncertain and he will be a big loss should he depart. Veterans Manuel Neuer (37) and Thomas Muller (34) are still in the squad and their exciting young players are led by Jamal Musiala, who would get into any Premier League team.

• Liverpool: 4/5
• Bayern: 4/5

Money talks

According to the Deloitte Money League 2024, the two clubs are comparable in terms of revenue. Bayern generate slightly more with £637.5 million, but it is not much better than Liverpool’s £585.2 million. Liverpool’s total is reflective of being in the Europa League this season rather than dining at the top table, so there will not be much in it when they finish in the top four or add a trophy. In the transfer market, this season Bayern have spent €180 million (£154 million) on Kane, Kim Min-jae and Sacha Boey, while Liverpool also invested heavily in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Waturu Endo and Ryan Gravenberch. Bayern have a history of picking off the best talents in Germany.

• Liverpool: 4/5
• Bayern: 4.5/5

Verdict

Alonso’s stock is so high at the moment that it is unlikely to be just Liverpool and Bayern competing for his signature. Bayer Leverkusen will want him to stay and huge jobs are expected to come up in 2025. But between his two former clubs, Liverpool would be the bigger challenge given what they face on a week-to-week basis in the Premier League. The pull of making Liverpool successful would be very difficult to turn down for a manager who backs his own ability. Fans will still remember days when success was not a given. It makes the job one of the most attractive in football. It would be the slimmest of margins, but Liverpool edge it.

• Liverpool total: 17
• Bayern total: 17

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