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Liverpool comprehensively beat Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Tuesday within the fourth spherical of the Champions League group stage, sustaining their 100% document within the competitors this time period on the expense of the reigning Bundesliga champions.
All 4 targets got here within the second half, with Luis Diaz touchdown a hat-trick (61′, 83′, 90+2′) and Cody Gakpo (63′) on track as properly.
Alonso returns to Liverpool
There was, in fact, loads of speak about Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso returning to Anfield. His hyperlinks with the six-time European champions are recognized to everybody following the sport for 20 years or extra, provided that he was one of many biggest heroes for the Merseysiders within the legendary 2005 Champions League remaining in opposition to AC Milan, scoring to equalize as they got here again in opposition to all odds from 3-0 down.
Naturally, the Spaniard acquired a heat welcome at Anfield, and the applause that echoed across the stadium after the ultimate whistle was absolutely partly in his honour.
Additional extra, Alonso was tipped for some time to succeed Jurgen Klopp because the Liverpool boss on the finish of final season, however he clearly felt he had unfinished enterprise at Leverkusen, having led them to a home unbeaten double and to the Europa League remaining. The Anfield trustworthy clearly don’t maintain that in opposition to him, exhibiting nothing however respect for all the pieces he’s executed in a Liverpool shirt. To be truthful, Arne Slot doing so properly firstly of this season has in all probability had some affect over that as properly.
Unsurprisingly, Alonso was requested about managing Liverpool sooner or later earlier than the sport, and his reply was extraordinarily diplomatic and respectful for each golf equipment, exhibiting loyalty to Leverkusen whereas not ruling something out.
Hey @LFC, He’s again!🥹#LIVB04 #UCL pic.twitter.com/d4JG4NSNOV
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) November 4, 2024
The groups
Slot was with out 4 gamers via numerous accidents for this conflict: goalkeeper Alisson Becker, midfielder Harvey Elliott, winger Federico Chiesa, and ahead Diogo Jota, all of whom are anticipated again in competition after the upcoming worldwide break.
Caomhin Kelleher was in objective once more. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk paired up within the coronary heart of defence, with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the precise, and Kostas Tsimikas, chosen once more forward of Andy Robertson, on the left. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have been in the midst of the park, joined by Curtis Jones who now seems to characterize severe competitors for Dominic Szoboszlai. Curiously sufficient, Slot gave the central attacking function to Luis Diaz this time, whereas Gakpo attacked from the left and Mohamed Salah from the precise.
However, Alonso went together with his most well-liked 3-5-2 formation. The again line of Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie and Edmond Tapsoba was the protect in entrance of goalkeeper Lukasz Hradecky. Granit Xhaka was the central determine in midfield, with Aleix Garcia and Exequiel Palacios closest. Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo offered width because the wingbacks, whereas Victor Boniface and Florian Wirtz performed upfront. The likes of Robert Andrich, Jonas Hofmann and Patrik Schick have been left on the bench.
The sport
The entire first half was slightly uneventful, which was arguably the way in which the guests needed it. Alonso’s males efficiently stifled Liverpool’s assaults, shorn of creativity or any hint of explosiveness. They even dominated possession, and the truth that the Merseysiders consistently sought to maneuver ahead solely elevated their frustration.
However proper on the hour mark, one superb line-breaking cross proved sufficient to undo all the pieces good Leverkusen had executed earlier than. It got here from Jones, who slipped the ball in for Diaz contained in the field, and the Colombian produced a deft chip over Hradecky to interrupt the impasse. Two minutes later, Salah delivered a pin-point cross to the far put up the place Gakpo pounced and headed into the online, dealing a robust blow to Leverkusen’s gameplan.
For some cause, finest recognized to himself, Alonso didn’t react instantly when his workforce went two targets down. As a substitute, he waited 10 extra minutes, after which merely refreshed his midfield by introducing Andrich and Hofmann as an alternative of Garcia and Palacios. Boniface, who had a really robust recreation in opposition to Van Dijk and Konate, made means for Schick with 10 minutes to go, and Nathan Tella got here on to exchange a tired-looking Grimaldo, all to little or no impact.
All Leverkusen have been capable of do after Diaz scored his second objective was to place the hosts below some strain, however even that didn’t stop Diaz from finishing his hat-trick within the second minute of stoppage time.
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Liverpool relentless
Liverpool have now performed 16 matches throughout all competitions this season, successful 14, struggling a shocking defeat at residence in opposition to Nottingham Forest and incomes a good draw away to Arsenal. Consequently, they prime the tables each within the Premier League and the Champions League, being the one workforce in UEFA’s elite competitors with a 100% document after 4 rounds. Fairly other than these successes, they’ve booked a spot within the Carabao Cup quarterfinals, the place they’ll face Southampton on December 18.
Not many noticed the Reds as severe contenders for the Premier League title, or Champions League glory. It was pure to not anticipate them to shine immediately below a brand new coach. It was extensively, and fairly fairly, believed Slot would want a while to impose his personal strategies and begin getting the most effective out of his new squad.
However the former Feyenoord coach has definitely put his stamp throughout Liverpool’s recreation. It’s notably totally different to the way in which Jurgen Klopp had the workforce taking part in, extra cautious, extra managed, extra pragmatic.
Forward of the worldwide break
Each Liverpool and Leverkusen have one recreation left to play earlier than the gamers head out for worldwide obligation. Liverpool could have a difficult job of welcoming Aston Villa to Anfield on Saturday.
As for Leverkusen, their 4 attracts within the final 5 Bundesliga video games have enabled Bayern Munich to open up a seven-point hole between them on the prime of the desk, with RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt in it. They are going to look to reap the benefits of the struggles of last-place Bochum once they journey for his or her conflict on the Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Saturday.
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