Former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso brought back memories of his on-pitch brilliance as he powered Liverpool Legends to a deserved come-back win over Manchester United Legends. The former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid playmaker outclassed and wrestled the midfield from Michael Carrick to humbe Manchester United Legends.
With a 3-1 advantage from the first leg of the encounter, which took place in May, the Liverpool legends came from a goal down to beat Manchester United Legends.
Goals from Mark Gonzalez and Florent Sinama-Pongolle enable the Reds to come back from a goal down to win the Liverpool charity match.
Dimitar Berbatov had gave the Red Devis the lead in the first half as Manchester United Legends looked set to win and dominate the game.
They went into the break with a good first half performance at Anfield with the Liverpool Legends trailing.
Michael Carrick and Berbatov combined perfectly to beat Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek.
The battles of the Reds took a drastic turn early into the second half with Liverpool finding an early equalizer.
A 47th minute strike by Gonzalez cancelled out Berbatovs leaving the game at a tie
Xabi Alonso was phenomenal as he reminded football fans of his great five seasons with Liverpoo l before Anfield exit.
Alonso was a nightmare for the Manchester United midfield in the game as he pulled clinical set pieces and great passes to help the Reds maintain a slight dominance in the game.
Liverpool would have responded early enough in the game if Sissoko’s header after Xabi Alonso’s cross, went over the crossbar.
Raimond Van der Gouw was equally phenomenal for the Red Devils in the goal post. He denied Liverpool a goal after he stopped Aurelio and Rodriguez strikes.
Xabi Alonso also set up Anthony Le Tallac before the end of the first half, but his effort went wide off the goal post.
Liverpool finally secured victory in the 83rd minute with Sinama-Pongolle firing into the bottom corner.
But Sir Kenny Dalglish’s side did manage to get in front seven minutes before the end.
Luis Garcia’s ball into the box in search of Keane was only half-cleared to the edge of the box, where Sinama-Pongolle was positioned to send the ball into the bottom corner of the net and secure the win.
Xabi Alonso, who captained the team, was a great asset to the Liverpool Legends in the game.
📸 All the highlights from Liverpool Legends’ 2-1 win over Manchester United 🤩 pic.twitter.com/QOE9YtfcaW
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) September 24, 2022
Xabi Alonso
Xabier Alonso Olano, popularly known as Xabi Alonso, was born on 25th November 1981 in Tolosa, Spain.
Alonso began his professional football career at Real Sociedad in Spain in 2000.
He has played for top clubs in Europe, with the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid on the list before retirement.
Xabi Alonso played for Spain’s national team from 2003 to 2014. He was capped 116 times, scoring 16 goals.
Retirement and Managerial Career
Xabi Alonso retired from football at the end of the 2016/17 football season at Bayern Munich.
Alonso started his coaching career with Real Madrid U-14 after completing UEFA Elite coaching course.
From Real Madrid U-14, he moved to Real Sociedad B in 2021, helping the team win promotion to Segunda B division since 1962.
Alonso left Real Sociedad B on May 2022 after the team was confirmed relegated again.
Xabi Alonso Wife
Xabi Alonso is married to Nagore Aranburu. Born on June 15, 1981, in Tolosa, Spain, Aranburu is a businesswoman and a renowned personality in the movie and media industry.
Xabi Alonso and Nagore started their friendship when they were teenagers and have very supportive of each other through their courtship which later metamorphosed into marriage.
Nagore and Xabi Alonso have three children together – Jontxu Aramburu Alonso, Ane Aramburu Alonso, and Emma Alonso.
