The Spaniard took Liverpool to his heart and is still revered - despite ruling himself out of the race to succeed Jurgen Klopp

Xabi Alonso was heavily linked with the Liverpool job earlier this year (Picture: ) Xabi Alonso brings his Bayer Leverkusen team to Liverpool on Tuesday night, having been strongly linked with the Anfield job himself earlier this year.

As soon as Klopp announced his decision to end his legendary nine-year reign at Anfield, former Reds midfielder Alonso was tipped by many to replace the German. However, it is understood that Liverpool were informed early in their search for a new manager that Alonso had no plans to parts ways with Leverkusen at the end of last season.