Liverpool boss Arne Slot was asked about rumours former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso could be the club's next head coach following his departure from Real Madrid

Arne Slot was asked about speculation linking Xabi Alonso with the Liverpool job, and the Reds boss was left stunned by the "weird" question.

Arne Slot has been forced to respond to speculation around his future at Liverpool. More specifically, the Dutchman was directly asked about Xabi Alonso during his pre-match press conference before his team face Marseille on Wednesday.

Liverpool face a crucial period with head coach Arne Slot under pressure, and reports from Spain suggest Xabi Alonso could be waiting for his next role after his sacking at Real Madrid

“Alonso, who has a close bond with Liverpool dating back to his playing days on Merseyside between 2004 and 2009, would have been a strong candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp in 2024 if he hadn’t vowed to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another year.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was full of praise for left back Andy Robertson and the maturity of his public comments about his uncertain future.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Marseille at Orange Velodrome (kick-off 20:00 GMT). Here are the key lines from his news conference:

Liverpool are back in Champions League action this week following claims that Virgil van Dijk requested a players‑only meeting after they dropped more points against Burnley