Xabi Alonso - what can I say, simply put the best mid-fielder we have had in the last 20 years, Gerrard aside.
He was just awesome, from his passing skills to the way he would just get on with the game. Sometimes he would have a shot rebound of the frame of the goal, and there was just a slight grimace on the face as he was already running back to his position, no histrionics, just get on with the game.
Arsene Wenger called it right when he said Xabi Alonso is the most unique player in world football, and (at that time he was) like a quarter-back for Liverpool, every move going through him.
Spoilt an entire season for us last year Xabi by leaving though, always knew we were screwed big time, even though people decided to give the issue a blind-eye.
But, for what he has done, and the sheer mesmerizing artistry of conducting a mid-field that he shown us for 5years, we can forgive him that.
From the first day that he arrived and the first few passes that he made, I knew we were seeing someone from a level not seen in many a years. People fail to appreciate the beauty of the game in mid-field at times if it doesn't lead to a goal or an eye-catching assist, Xabi played the game of balance, always complementing any mid-fielder he was played with, adjusting his style, if he was playing with Gerrard or with Mascherano. We could replace almost everybody from the team from the season before last, but we couldn't have replaced just two players without upsetting the play - Gerrard and Alonso. Sadly one of them left, and the balance was broken.
We will have many a good mid-fields to come in years ahead, but it will always be a privilege to have seen Xabi Alonso.
