Xabi Alonso brings his Bayer Leverkusen team to Liverpool on Tuesday night, having been strongly linked with the Anfield job himself earlier this year.
After Jurgen Klopp announced his intention to leave the Reds midway through last season, Alonso quickly emerged as the number one candidate.
The Spaniard starred in midfield for Liverpool during his playing days and has thoroughly impressed as manager of Leverkusen since hanging up his boots.
However, he snubbed the attention from Merseyside, and that from another former club in Bayern Munich, to stay on at Leverkusen after their incredible Bundesliga triumph last season.
Asked about why he turned down Liverpool ahead of an emotional return this week, Alonso said: ‘At that time I was focused, I had a big thing with the players and we were really focused on that.’
Understandably the 42-year-old was keen to concentrate on the task at hand, with Liverpool in fine form under Arne Slot.
‘Let’s talk about the game tomorrow, it’s more interesting than my future. Let’s talk about the great players on both sides, that is what is in my head,’ he said.
‘For us it is a big challenge to come here. Liverpool at the moment is one of the best if not the best in Europe, they are showing that in a very strong Premier League and the Champions League.
‘It’s a good squad, good coach. At Anfield, it’s a big challenge. We’re looking forward to it, let’s see what happens.’
He added on Slot, who has started brilliantly at Anfield: ‘Liverpool are in a great moment. I followed Arne Slot when he was at Feyenoord. I know his approach. That combined with the intensity here at Liverpool is a nice mixture.
‘That’s why they are top of the Premier League and the Champions League. In all areas they are strong.
‘The manager has done a fantastic job in the past three months. For us it’s a big challenge to come here. At the moment Liverpool are one of the best if not the best team in Europe. We have our plan so let’s see what happens.’
Slot has won all three of his Champions League games in charge of the Reds and is sitting top of the Premier League table, so he deserves the praise he has received from Alonso.
The Dutchman has returned the compliments as well, hailing the ‘special’ Leverkusen boss.
‘It’s difficult to say what makes him a special manager if you don’t work with him on a daily basis but he is, that is clear,’ Slot told a pre-match press conference.
‘Bottom of the league when he took over, didn’t spend much, mainly the same players, and they only lost in the final of the Europa League. What makes him special is hard because I haven’t faced him or worked with him but what might be the situation is he worked with incredible managers in the past and played at the highest levels. So he also knows and understands what players feel at certain moments.
‘That all contributes to what a manager he is. The best way to find out what makes him special is to ask the players he has worked with.’
Leverkusen have also had a good start to their Champions League campaign, beating Feyenoord and AC Milan before a draw at Brest last time out.