Liverpool’s Luis Díaz scored a hat trick as they maintained their good Champions League marketing campaign with a barnstorming second-half show in a 4-0 victory over Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Tuesday.
Arne Slot’s males, who prime the Premier League desk, provisionally lead the standings of Europe’s elite membership competitors with their fourth win in 4 matches, with Aston Villa, the one different staff with a 100% report, enjoying Membership Brugge of their fourth recreation on Wednesday.
Leverkusen’s loss spoiled the return of supervisor and former Liverpool hero Alonso, who hoisted the Champions League trophy with the Reds in 2005 and was closely touted as a alternative for former supervisor Jürgen Klopp earlier than ruling himself out of the operating.
“It is painful the consequence greater than the efficiency, in all probability,” Alonso informed Amazon Prime. “However that is the Champions League, that is the best degree, and right this moment it wasn’t sufficient for us.
“I attempted to separate the sport and the ache from the consequence from the great emotions to come back again. I am actually blissful and grateful for that reception,” he added on the nice and cozy greeting he obtained from the Anfield crowd.
Slot, nevertheless, has proved a worthy alternative for Klopp, recording his 14th win in 16 video games on Tuesday.
Photograph by John Powell/Liverpool FC by way of Getty Photos
Diaz broke the impasse of what had been a sluggish affair in beautiful trend within the 61st minute, timing his run onto Curtis Jones’ pinpoint cross via the guts of Leverkusen’s defence earlier than lifting the ball over keeper Lukas Hradecky.
Gakpo doubled the Reds’ lead two minutes later when he dived to go Mohamed Salah’s cross residence on the again submit. The objective was initially dominated offside however the resolution was overturned by VAR.
Diaz netted his second within the 83rd minute when he latched onto a cross from Salah, after which held off a problem earlier than slotting previous Hradecky.
“We now have fine quality gamers everywhere in the pitch, however really, I actually loved enjoying in that place right this moment, and wherever I am enjoying on the pitch, I’ll work arduous, and I hope I can assist the staff,” Diaz mentioned, including he deliberate to go and seek for the match ball.
He accomplished his hat trick with a tap-in from shut vary in stoppage time after Darwin Núñez’s shot was blocked in an announcement victory for the six-times winners of Europe’s prime competitors towards the Bundesliga champions who misplaced simply as soon as in all competitions final season.
“4-nil, good consequence towards an excellent staff, I do not know if it is the very best consequence [this season], but it surely’s an excellent one,” Gakpo informed Amazon Prime.
Each groups have been missing high quality within the ultimate third in a uninteresting first half. Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong had an effort shortly earlier than half-time chalked off for a handball within the build-up, whereas Gakpo squandered a terrific likelihood for Liverpool, capturing straight at Hradecky after working the ball up the left facet.
Alonso’s Leverkusen are provisionally eleventh within the Champions League standings with a pair of wins, a draw and a loss.
The 42-year-old Alonso performed 210 video games for Liverpool in a five-year spell from 2004, and was a part of the facet that accomplished a miraculous comeback of their Champions League ultimate win over AC Milan in Istanbul.
