Jeremie Frimpong gives two reasons why Xabi Alonso could be perfect for Liverpool: "He has the solutions"

Jeremie Frimpong has hailed Xabi Alonso's coaching abilities, saying the Bayer Leverkusen boss "has the solutions" as he continues to be linked with Liverpool.

With eight goals and seven assists, Frimpong has been a vital part of Alonso’s record-breaking Leverkusen side, who are ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after a stunning, undefeated run.

One of the best midfielders of his generation, Alonso is in his first proper managerial job.

Yet Frimpong believes there's two key reasons why Alonso is destined to become a top manager, regardless of whether his future is with Leverkusen or one of his former clubs.

“He’s played for top teams and he’s had great managers who he’s learned from,” Frimpong told SPORTbible when asked about the Spaniard.

“He's had Pep [Guardiola], [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Jose] Mourinho – all of them. He was bound to be a great manager with all the experience he’s had.

“How he’s putting [information] to the players at Leverkusen, we all enjoy playing under him. We really play football. He’s got all the trust of the players have his trust.

“On the pitch, [the style of play] gives us more of our strong abilities. Me and [Alex] Grimaldo, are abilities are to attack and go forward. Obviously we need to defend as well but it gives us that freedom. We’re really enjoying it.”

Image: Getty

Alonso’s Leverkusen haven’t lost a single game in the Bundesliga this season and have conceded just 16 goals.

Playing with three at the back and Frimpong and Grimaldo flying forward as wing-backs, they have been one of the best sides in Europe to watch this term.

And Frimpong shed some light into the details Alonso goes into when coming up against opponents.

He added: “He has his own style. Even when we’re on the training pitch and we’re doing the patterns. We all understand it and it makes sense. It gets us out of trouble.

“When teams are wanting to press us high, he has the solutions. Sometimes on the pitch you have the solutions but in the Bundesliga teams press good so it’s not every time where you’re going to pass, pass pass.

“Mistakes do happen. He's really calm. There’s been times where we’ve been down and on the half-time talk he’s relaxed.

“That’s really important for the players. If the manager is calm, it can calm us as well and we don’t feel too much pressure.”

Alonso is the brains behind it all but Leverkusen made a shrewd signing in the summer when they brought Granit Xhaka back to Germany from Arsenal in a £21.4 million switch.

The 31-year-old is experiencing a career resurgence with Leverkusen and Frimpong says his leadership abilities are invaluable to this talented side.

He explained: “Granit, his experience says it all. He’s helped us out a lot. He’s very important for the team. He has experience at the highest level and he’s bringing it to Leverkusen.

“For instance, Rob Andrich and Exequiel Palacios, they are working well with him. I feel like he’s bringing that experience to them and they’re taking it.

“Granit has a big voice in the team. Of course he’s not our captain but he is like a captain. When he speaks, we all listen and when he talks, it makes sense. He’s been very big for us.”

Image: Getty

Leverkusen are one of Germany’s biggest clubs and reached the Champions League final in 2002 at Hampden Park.

However, they have never won the Bundesliga – finishing as runners up on a record five times.

But they are now in a brilliant position to make history and finally knock off a Bayern side who have won eleven titles on the trot.

Analysing the current placement, Frimpong commented: “As a footballer you want to win things. I don’t want to talk much about this league and then us not win it but one hundred per cent I want to win it.

“We’re in a great position to win it but you know how football goes. It can all change. We just have to stay concentrated and focused.

“In the Bundesliga there are great teams who can come back so let’s not get excited until towards the end, then we will see where we are. Then we can talk."

Jeremie Frimpong's Pathways project was founded on January 3 and helps players 15 to 22 years old. Youngsters can sign up using the online form on the Pathways website.

Topics: Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Granit Xhaka

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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