Alonso thrilled with Reds title bid

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso reveals that he is "really excited" to see former club Liverpool on top of the table.

Xabi Alonso admits he is really excited to see Liverpool on top of the Premier League table.

The Real Madrid midfielder was part of Rafael Benítez’s Reds side that were pipped to the English top-flight crown by Manchester United in 2008/09.

Brendan Rodgers’s side are currently five points clear of second-placed Chelsea, with José Mourinho’s men set to make the trip to Anfield on Sunday.

And 31-year-old Alonso, who helped Los Blancos beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, is still a keen follower of the Reds.

“Absolutely, absolutely. Whenever I’m not on work duty, I keep an eye on the Reds. I’m really excited,” Alonso told SI.

“It’s thrilling what’s happening in the city right now. What they are doing at the moment is so admirable, the players, the coaches.

“11 wins in a row is a massive achievement, and they are so close to winning the league for the first time in 24 years.

“So I’m really looking forward to it and happy for the ones I know like Stevie and Lucas, the ones I played with there.”

Alonso completed a £30m move to Real Madrid in 2009 after winning the Champions League and FA Cup with the Reds.