Alonso

[Marky]

They all worked thier balls off and like i said if Flamini had not come off he would have been **** the whole game.

I'm not saying they didn't.
All's i'm saying is Xabi did.

[Assassin]

People have very short memories, when he is on his game, he always makes that extra split second of time to get the ball to some one. It's a part of his game that has always impressed me. He is never been fast but his ability to hit left and right footed passes under pressure and tight marking is why he was so coveted. He had a bad injury, and was dropped for a quite a while after, he is not going to be back to his best after a handful of games.

FFS, I am talking about his lack of speed and the fact it doesnt him an ideal choice to be facing a midfield full of runners.

As I have said he is good, but IMO he is not as good as Molby was

[Pablo]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think he should be sold in the summer.

Hes not the player I thought he could become unfortunately. Not as athletic as we need him to be for a DM role, this season Mascherano has set the benchmark in that aspect.

Great passer but not quite crafty enough in the final third to warrant playing as an attacking midfielder.

I will be sad to see him go but I am expecting him to be on the list of possible departures in the summer. I think as long as we get a decent fee it will be in the best interests of both if he leaves. We can use the money to strengthen other areas of the team.

[Nic83]

The only way Xabi will be going is if he wants to go. How many defensive centre mids are massively Athletic?

[steveliverpool]

I cannot praise Alonso high enough and he has the rare ability to always have time on the ball relieving others when we are under pressure. Don't think the majority on here appreciate what a player he is and just how much he would be missed until it is too late.
Lucas, as good a young player as he may prove to be isn't in the same league as Xabi.

[Nic83]

I cannot praise Alonso high enough and he has the rare ability to always have time on the ball relieving others when we are under pressure. Don't think the majority on here appreciate what a player he is and just how much he would be missed until it is too late.
Lucas, as good a young player as he may prove to be isn't in the same league as Xabi.

Only us informed people can appreciate the benefits of the Xabster

I really like the new midfield trio of :

---Garrard---

Mash ---Alonso

It's colossal and with Babel Torres and maybe a new signing in front, it's scary

[lfc1394]

FFS, I am talking about his lack of speed and the fact it doesnt him an ideal choice to be facing a midfield full of runners.

As I have said he is good, but IMO he is not as good as Molby was

Molby was a legend, and did it at the top level for many years, no Xabi is not as good as Molby. Don’t see the relevance in the pace of the opposition midfielders, makelele, hamman and molby where never fast, still all made great midfielders

[Nicey]

Xabi has not been himself this season, it will pass, he is still worldclass dont worry

[Pablo]

The only way Xabi will be going is if he wants to go. How many defensive centre mids are massively Athletic?

I think one of my main gripes with him is he is just too slow. Mascherano can really shift and is able to track back most times if a man beats him and get a recovery tackle in. Once someone has nipped past Alonso he just doesnt have the pace to recover, it happened several times yesterday. If he had a bit more pace he would make an exceptional defensive midfielder, but he doesnt.

[Nic83]

I have to say, Masher has seriously impressed me this season after a bit of an iffy start IMO. Shout for LFC player of the year IMO, well behind Torres obviously

[DannyMan2006]

The reason we were dominated in the early stages was due to Mascher going to gung-ho at times, chasing the ball instead of marking the player (Fabregas).

Both Xabi and Javier were cut to shreds by the speed of Arsenals passing and the way they come out the traps, but then, so was the whole team. After 25mins or so we came into it and suddenly we had the space in midfield.

When this happened Alonso was immense and showed why he is in the team. Mascher is great at winning the ball and laying it off, Xabi is on the other hand fantastic at calming play and building from the back. As another poster said, only Gerrard is the jack of all trades, but then he lacks the patience to sit and wait.

At the end of the day, how often do we paly teams similar in quality to Arsenal? Never. No one in the Premier league comes close to their speed of passing. The lack of pace with regards to Xabi makes **** all difference against other teams.

Attacking terms, pace is a massive requirement for world class, defensive terms this is not so. I think most people will be aware that the key player for Real in the galacticos era was not Raul, Figo, Beckham or Zidane, but Claude Makalele. He was also essential to Chelseas title wins. Now Makalele can't hack it anymore it has been noticable how Chelsea have struggled to dominate games for the full 90mins, though they are coming back into it.

Xabi Alonso is a quality player for Liverpool and does his job well. If his mind is not at it anymore for us then get rid. If he's happy we should keep him. Our great early season form was down to Xabi. When he got injured I for one happened to notice as we slid down the table. Now he's back in the team and fully fit and we are on another great run.

You can call it a coincidence if you like.

[Elrond]

I don't think it's any coincidence whatsoever that our return to form as a team has coincided with the return of Xabi ... Some people underestimate his work rate ...

And those of you blaming Diaby's goal on him, I have seen it a few times and I am quite sure he is actually just covering for Mascherano ...

A midfield three of Gerrard Alonso and Mascherano is a fantastic trio and, when fit, should be played as often as possible !! Add in Torres, Carra and Reina and there is your spine !!

[Kenneth]

It is coincidence imo. Our 4231 formation has been the key. Maybe you could argue that Rafa would only have had the confidence to play this way with xabi available, but I think he'd be happy to stick lucas there in the same formation. Xabi has been really poor since he came back and if he doesn't find some form soon, he needs shipping out while he's still worth good money.

[Skillz]

It is coincidence imo. Our 4231 formation has been the key. Maybe you could argue that Rafa would only have had the confidence to play this way with xabi available, but I think he'd be happy to stick lucas there in the same formation. Xabi has been really poor since he came back and if he doesn't find some form soon, he needs shipping out while he's still worth good money.

Sorry but I disagree. I think Xabi has had a poor season by his standards but that is more than likely due to having been injured for a long spell. If you analyse our league season our best form coincides with having Xabi in the team, no coincidence IMO.

If we sell him this summer it would be too soon and I agree with other posters that it would only happen on his request. Rafa will not want to sell him.

[dww]

I think some injuries mean players are never quite the same again. I don't think any of us is close enough to the situation or expert enough to tell whether that is the case with Xabi. We have to hope that Rafa and his team are and make the correct decision.

If Xabi can get back to what he was before this season then I think we have to keep him and he will be an important cog in our team and the perfect role model for Lucas and the likes of Plessis coming through.