Luis Diaz struck a hat-trick and Cody Gakpo was additionally heading in the right direction as Liverpool maintained their excellent begin to the UEFA Champions League with a rampant 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen that soured Xabi Alonso’s Anfield return.
The Bundesliga champions have been initially well-drilled by the previous Reds midfielder turned coach and restricted Arne Slot’s males to few openings in a first-half wherein each side cancelled one another out. That every one modified in a two-goal surge previous the hour because the Merseysiders seized management of the proceedings.
First, Diaz raced on to Curtis Jones’ luxurious cross to supply an impish dinked end on 61 minutes, earlier than Gakpo’s thumping header made it two simply two minutes later as VAR intervened to rule his purpose onside from Mo Salah’s cross.
Diaz then put the icing on the cake seven minutes from time as he transformed one other excellent supply from Salah, earlier than serving to himself to the match ball with a easy end in stoppage time. It capped a vibrant and much-improved second-half exhibiting from the house group and left former Kop hero Alonso on the receiving finish of one other magical European night time at Anfield.
The outcome sees Liverpool stand alone on the prime of the UEFA Champions League group standings with 4 wins from 4. Leverkusen are 5 factors additional again in eleventh place after struggling their first loss within the competitors.
Liverpool will now look to keep up prime spot within the Premier League after they entertain Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday night time.
Speaking Level – Slot’s (Crimson) machine continues to impress on all fronts
High of the UEFA Champions League’s revamped group stage and prime of the Premier League; Liverpool beneath Arne Slot live as much as Alonso’s pre-match phrases describing them as presently ‘the very best group in Europe.’
In another universe maybe Alonso would have been within the house dugout tonight because the successor to Jurgen Klopp.
As an alternative, the Leverkusen boss felt the total power of Anfield on a European night time; a sensation that was as soon as in his favour however successfully blew his German champions away in a scorching second 45 from the Merseysiders.
It says a lot about Slot’s influence, that the lack of Klopp and failure to lure Alonso to Anfield in the summertime is much from the minds of Kopites because the Dutchman oversaw a 14th win from 16 matches in cost.
Certainly, Liverpool proceed to have the attacking power that was a characteristic beneath Klopp, however there’s now a solidity on the again that’s seeing them emerge as main contenders in all competitions this season.
Participant of the match
Luis Diaz (Liverpool). The Colombian netted his first treble for the membership, beginning it off with a fairly scrumptious, dinked end and including two extra to cap a effective, all-action show.
Participant rankings
LIVERPOOL: Kelleher 8, Alexander-Arnold 7, Konate 8, Van Dijk 8, Tsimikas 7, Jones 8, Gravenberch 8, Mac Allister 7, Salah 8, Gakpo 8, Diaz 9*. Subs: Szoboszlai 7, Nunez n/a, Robertson n/a, Bradley n/a, Quansah n/a.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Hradecky 7, Tapsoba 7, Tah 6, Hincapie 7, Frimpong 7, Palacios 6, Xhaka 6, Grimaldo 6, Wirtz 7, Garcia 6, Boniface 6. Subs: Hofmann 6, Andrich 6, Schick n/a, Tella n/a.
Match Highlights
61’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen: (Luis Diaz). Jones threads a chic ball via for Diaz, who dinks a scrumptious end past the ‘keeper.
63’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen: (Cody Gakpo). Gakpo thumps a superb header house from Salah’s supreme cross. It is initially dominated out for offside, however VAR checks and the choice is … Onside! Liverpool have two in two minutes!
69’ – Bayer Leverkusen probability! Boniface guides a free header huge from a right-wing cross. That was a giant, massive probability to cut back the arrears.
83’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen: (Luis Diaz). It is Luis Diaz on the double. The Colombian makes positive of the factors as he takes down Salah’s cross and prods a close-range end into the again of the online.
90+2’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: (Luis Diaz). Nunez leads a lightning break. He cuts inside and shoots. It is a contact grasping however the ball falls kindly for Diaz to brush it house and assist himself to the match ball.