Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Diaz hat-trick gives Reds easy win
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: The Reds are top of the Champions League after a rout at Anfield
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool moved to the top of the Champions League table and kept their European winning streak going with a fine outing against Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.
Xabi Alonso’s German champions were solid and secure in a tentative first half that lacked quality in front of goal. Luis Diaz found the goalkeeper’s gloves and Jeremie Frimpong had a goal ruled out for offside as the teams traded blows.
The second half was all Liverpool. Three goals, two for Diaz and one for Cody Gakpo ensured they left the field with three points and another notch to Arne Slot’s reputation. Diaz’s first was made by Curtis Jones who slipped a fine pass into the box before Diaz chipped the goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Mo Salah then set up the second with a cross to Gakpo who headed home a few minutes later. That broke Leverkusen’s resistance and the Reds added a late third as Salah found Diaz for his second of the night.
Diaz wasn’t done though. With three minutes of added time, Liverpool countered and Darwin Nunez set Diaz up to complete his hat-trick.
Relive the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Slot on the new Champions League format
The Liverpool boss also gave his thoughts on the new Champions League format and explained a few of the positives. He said: “When you play now, every tie is a new opponent.
“You can be lucky or unlucky and then it has to do with which teams you face at home or away. What I love is every evening I can switch to a game that is really a nice one to watch.”
Pre-match thoughts from Arne Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke ahead of tonight’s match and laid out what he is expecting from the game. He said: “It is a big European game which is almost always the situation when you play the Champions League.
“Mainly also for what Xabi Alonso did for this club, especially in Europe as well. Domestically and in Europe last season, they were incredible.
“I think this season they are just as good but a bit more unlucky when it comes to results. It’s a big game to look forward to for people who love the game.”
Jurgen Klopp defends decision to take ‘outstanding’ new role with Red Bull after criticism
Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp defended his decision to join Red Bull as global head of soccer from next year following criticism from fans in Germany, saying the project was “outstanding” for him.
Klopp, who ended a successful nine-year stint at Liverpool last season, also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, with many of those clubs’ fans angered by his decision to join Red Bull.
Fans in Mainz during a league game earlier in October even unfurled banners venting their anger over Klopp‘s decision. Klopp had spent 18 years as a Mainz player and then coach.
Jurgen Klopp defends decision to take new role with Red Bull after criticism
Klopp was unveiled as global head of soccer for the group earlier this month after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season
Konate ‘will be ready'
Liverpool have been given a big boost as centre-back Ibrahima Konate confirmed his arm injury will not force him to miss any games for the club.
The 25-year-old posted a positive update on his instagram following a medical assessment after the game.
He wrote: “Thanks for all the messages of support. My injury isn’t serious thankfully. I had a scan today and it confirmed there is no break. I’ll be ready for the next game.”
Will Alonso enjoy his Liverpool return?
“We will see, I will tell you after the game how I feel. There will be a moment for everything, but the main thing is not me,” Xabi Alonso replied when asked by the media if he was looking forward to his Anfield return.
He added: “It’s the players, how we deal with the emotions you have in this stadium, they are in a good moment. Maybe I will take a little walk or a run, but there is no time for tourism.
“I know the city very well, I loved it, but I will focus on the game and only the game.”
Alonso on facign Liverpool
“For us it is a big challenge to come here. Liverpool at the moment is one of the best if not the best in Europe, they are showing that in a very strong Premier League and the Champions League.
“It’s a good squad, good coach. At Anfield, it’s a big challenge. We’re looking forward to it, let’s see what happens.”
Xabi Alonso explains decision to turn down Liverpool ahead of Anfield return
Former Liverpool great Xabi Alonso dodged questions about taking over at Anfield and insisted he does not return to the city as a tourist.
Alonso was hot favourite for the Liverpool job when Jurgen Klopp announced in January he was leaving, but quickly ruled himself out of the running before guiding Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title.
Asked whether it was ever a serious consideration, the Spaniard, who won the 2005 Champions League during a five-year spell at Anfield, said: “At that time I was focused, I had a big thing with the players and we were really focused on that.”
Xabi Alonso explains decision to turn down Liverpool ahead of Anfield return
Alonso was hot favourite for the Liverpool job when Jurgen Klopp announced in January he was leaving
Liverpool vs Leverkusen prediction
A hard-fought game but a high-quality one, with the home advantage for the Reds proving enough to edge them to three points.
Liverpool 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen.
Predicted line-ups
Here’s how we see the two teams linig up this evening. Arne Slot should get pretty strong and hope to get his team closer to the next round but with Liverpool also fighting for the Premier League title it would not be surprising if changes were made.
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Leverkusen XI: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo, Wirtz, Terrier, Boniface
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