Liverpool's Premier League form in 2026 went from bad to worse as they suffered a 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Arne Slot's side went into the game unbeaten in 13 games across all competitions, but things unraveled for them in the South Coast as the Cherries got a famous result in front of their own fans.
The Athletic confirmed earlier this month that Slot retains the backing of the Liverpool hierarchy.
However, reports from Spain suggest the contrary, especially after Xabi Alonso's recent departure from Real Madrid.
Liverpool deservedly came out second best against Bournemouth as Amine Adli's stoppage-time goal sent the Vitality Stadium into a frenzy.
After spending nearly £450m in the summer transfer window, Slot has failed to get his players to perform consistently, which has emerged as a major cause for concern at Anfield.
Elsewhere, Alonso is now without a job after parting ways with Real Madrid after a short stint with the La Liga giants.
The Spaniard attained legendary status at Anfield due to his exploits as a player and has already turned heads in his short-career so far.
And now, Diario AS claim Liverpool have already made first contact with Alonso's representatives to test the waters over his availability. The response has been positive, with the Spaniard keen to take over the reigns at Anfield if Liverpool reluctantly part ways with Slot.
The report also states that Liverpool have assured Slot that he will remain in charge until the rest of the season. However, they are making contingency plans for the summer, giving the Dutchman enough time to turn things around.
Alonso's positive response to initial talks puts Liverpool in a commanding position as they have a solid option to turn to if Slot leaves at some point this year.
After announcing his retirement as a player in 2017, Alonso admitted a year later that he would like to manage Liverpool.
In an interview with Guillem Balague, the Spaniard said: "Yes for sure, I have dreamt of that [managing Liverpool], but first I have to prove myself and prepare.
"If I decide somewhere along the way to take my chances as a manager, my link, my commitment, my passion with Liverpool is there."
He has already proved himself as a manager after winning the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, an achievement that earned him a move to Real Madrid at the start of the current campaign.
His stint in the Spanish capital didn't go as planned. That said, the Reds don't chop and change managers at the first sign of difficulty, so he is likely to get a lot more at Anfield if he gets the job as opposed to what was the case at the Bernabeu.
