Benitez sends Xabi Alonso Liverpool job warning: Imagine Gerrard was doing well

Rafael Benitez has urged caution around Xabi Alonso being linked to the Liverpool job.

Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso is the favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer but ex-Reds boss Benitez believes there is too much of a rush around appointing current flavours of the month to big jobs because of social media.

Alonso has steered Leverkusen, who travel to neighbours Koln on Sunday afternoon, to the top of the Bundesliga table - with an eight point lead over Bayern Munich.

And as a result of his recent success the Basque former midfielder is being talked up as the next man in at Anfield after Klopp’s decision to depart at the conclusion of this campaign following nine years in charge. The Bavarians are cutting ties with Thomas Tuchel in the summer, meaning Alonso has also been linked with that upcoming vacancy.

However, Benitez has warned against there being too much too soon for Alonso. “He’s a big name, good professional, good lad, clever, doing really well so I understand why [Alonso is being linked with Liverpool],” the now Celta Vigo boss said. “[But] imagine Steven Gerrard was around and doing well. Then it would be: ‘Gerrard!’ With social media everything is going too fast so that people don’t see the big picture.”

But in an interview with the Guardian, Benitez also hailed Alonso’s tactical acumen dating back to when he was a player at Anfield.

“He was clever and analysed,” Benitez said before recalling the 2005 Champions League quarter-final against Juventus. “When you explain things to some players, you have to repeat. Xabi was one who learned quickly.

“They had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero up front with Pavel Nedved between the lines. We had to play with three centre-backs. I changed to play 5-3-1-1,