Xabi Alonso has been quickly installed as the favourite to take over from the departing Jurgen KloppCredit: Getty

Alonso has been making waves since taking over as Bayer Leverkusen head coach in 2022, leading his unbeaten side to the top of the Bundesliga with 16 games remaining.

But the 42-year-old has never hidden his ambition of managing the Reds in the future and outlined his long-standing passion for the Merseyside club in an interview with Guillem Balague for talkSPORT back in 2018.

“Yeah for sure I have dreamt of that,” said Alonso when quizzed on whether he could see himself in the Anfield dugout in the future.

“First, I have to prove myself and to prepare.

“If I decide somewhere along the way to take my chances as a manager, my link, my commitment and my passion with Liverpool is there.

“Why not? We’ll see if we can cross paths in our ways.”

The Spaniard’s connections with Liverpool run deep – he was part of the Reds’ historic Champions League triumph in Istanbul in 2005, scoring his side’s equaliser after coming back from a three-goal deficit against AC Milan.

He made a total of 210 appearances for Liverpool and also lifted the FA Cup.

The Spaniard spent five years at Anfield as a player, winning the Champions League in 2005Credit: Getty

The curtain is falling on Klopp who announced that he is to leave Liverpool at the end of the seasonCredit: Rex

The footballing Gods were perhaps at play on Friday, as Alonso sat down for a press conference just hours after Klopp’s shock announcement.

Alonso was speaking ahead of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga clash with Borussia Monchengladbach, but it presented reporters with the perfect opportunity to quiz him on the Liverpool links.

However, for now, the Spaniard reaffirmed his happiness at the German league leaders.

“First of all it was a surprise,” said Alonso.

“I have huge respect for Jurgen, huge admiration before he came to Liverpool, and during his years there it has become even bigger and it has grown, for what he has achieved and how he achieved it.

“At the moment I am really happy here, I am enjoying my work here. Each day and each game is a challenge, and we are in an intense but a beautiful journey here at Leverkusen and I am giving my best to help my players be ready.

“To be honest, I am not in a moment to think about the next step. I’m just thinking about where I am right now and I think I’m in a great place and I’m enjoying it. I think it’s the right place, so that’s all I can say.

“What’s going to happen in the future, I don’t know, and I don’t really care at the moment.”

Alonso has lifted Bayer Leverkusen from second-bottom of the Bundesliga to being title favourites within less than two years in chargeCredit: Getty

The possibility of Alonso landing his dream job at Anfield should not encounter any resistance from Bayer Leverkusen who would not stand in his way, according to CEO Fernando Carro.

Speaking to talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs in November, Carro said; “We have a very, very good relationship with Xabi and he knows that we are a serious club.

“At the end of the day, we’re not going to force someone to stay if he doesn’t want to stay. We want him to feel so happy and so good with us that he really only wants to stay and this is our objective.

“There’s nothing on paper but sometimes agreements that are not on paper are agreements as well and we know that if he needs to do a move in the future we’ll be able to talk with each other.

“I hope we will not need to do this because he will stay and be happy in Leverkusen.”