ALONSO IN FROM THE COLD
MARCOS ALONSO says Thomas Tuchel has given him a new lease of life – after freeing him from the doghouse.
The Spanish full-back was frozen out by previous Chelsea boss Frank Lampard when he responded to being taken off at West
Brom in September by heading straight for the team bus.
For 16 league games in a row Alonso (inset) did not even make the matchday squad, and was forced to watch his team in action at home.
But the defender is now by PAUL BROWN firmly back in favour and was man of the match in Monday’s 2-0 win over Everton as Chelsea made it 11 games unbeaten under Tuchel. Alonso said: “When I used to stay home it was not easy to help the team. When I am on the pitch it is easier.
“But I’m very happy to get involved and to be able to help the team and I’m looking forward to more of this. “Was it frustrating not playing? Yes, of course. I was not getting many chances. It was tough. All you can do is keep working hard, keep training and try to be ready.”
With Tuchel often employing wing-backs, Alonso also has a new-found freedom on the pitch – and he is loving it.
The former Fiorentina man said: “When you are controlling the game like we did against Everton, it gives you a little bit more freedom.
“And I am always happy to help the team. If we control the game like we did against Everton, it is not easy to go through the middle.
“So I like to do these runs from wide to inside.”
LIVERPOOL have finally won at home this year.
They just needed to travel 1,300 miles from Anfield to the Puskas Arena in Budapest to get their first ‘home’ victory of 2021.
Second-half strikes from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane secured a safe passage for the Reds into the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of RB Leipzig.
Some much-needed relief for the Reds in Europe after a nightmare couple of months back home.
It technically stops a run of six defeats on the trot at ‘home’ which have assisted in their limp defence of the Premier League title.
Although Jurgen Klopp’s men will want to put that horror run right at Anfield when they return to their own patch, for now, it was about keeping their season alive and having some silverware still to fight
LIVERPOOL win 4-0 on Agg
for. They may be eighth in the Premier League table but they are in the last eight of the Champions League.
This was everything their performances in England haven’t been of late.
Full of life, creativity and – eventually – ruthlessness. Also, the brilliant Fabinho back in midfield.
Liverpool had to host this game in Budapest because Covid-19 restrictions in Germany meant Leipzig would need to quarantine on their return home if they travelled to the UK.
But with six defeats on the trot at