Source: Telegraph
Liverpool's Xabi Alonso was key to Premier League title hopes
The Spain international has been an integral member of Rafa Benitez's squad since his arrival from Real Sociedad for £10.7m back in 2004.
Last season in particular Alonso shone as Liverpool challenged United all the way and finished just four points behind the eventual champions.
And the statistics prove that Liverpool are a far more successful side when Alonso plays than when he doesn't, prompting many observers to question whether Benitez has just sold Liverpool's Premier League title hopes.
Over the last two seasons Liverpool won 67 per cent of matches that Alonso played in, compared to 46 per cent without.
That's a staggering difference and proves just how key the 27-year-old was to Liverpool's recent domestic success.
When Alonso was absent, Liverpool won less then half their games and regardless of whether Liverpool have made an £18m profit on the player, filling the hole left by his exit will not be easy and will not come cheap.
Roma's Alberto Aquilani has been linked with a £19m move to Anfield. However, there are no assurances he will slot into the Liverpool team, and the Premier League's frenetic pace, as seamlessly as Alonso did.
The Spaniard lent genuine balance to the Liverpool team and allowed Steven Gerrard to push forward, thereby making Liverpool a more potent attacking threat.
In the 52 matches Alonso played for Liverpool over the last two years, the club won an impressive 35, drawing 14 and losing just four.
Liverpool fans had genuine hopes of witnessing their club end 20 years of waiting for the title this season, but that was before Alonso's departure.
The question now is how long Benitez will be able to hold on to Javier Mascherano, who was hankering after a move to Barcelona even before Benitez finally agreed to sell Alonso to Real.
