Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Luis Diaz luggage a hat-trick because the Reds run riot within the second half to spoil Xabi Alonso’s Anfield homecoming

Above something, the one trait that separates world-class midfielders from the lavatory commonplace is a imaginative and prescient to choose passes that 99 per cent of the stadium wouldn’t even take into consideration attempting, by no means thoughts pulling them off.

But when there was one man at Anfield final night time apart from the 22 gamers on the pitch that may have noticed the move was on for Curtis Jones’ beautiful help, it was the chap within the pristine white trainers crouching within the away technical space, Xabi Alonso.

It was a cushioned punch to separate Leverkusen’s well-drilled and cussed defence open and it regarded relatively simple. However that’s what the most effective midfielders do – Alonso made a profession of it as he gained World Cups, Champions Leagues and nationwide titles galore.

And it proved to be the decisive second between a humid squib and sustaining a 100 per cent file in Europe for Arne Slot’s prices. Jones threaded in Luis Diaz to attain with an equally deft end, dinked over the goalkeeper, after which Cody Gakpo doubled their lead minutes later.

Objectives are a bit like ready for London buses just lately for the Reds. Stand round for an age after which two come alongside without delay. Two objectives in three minutes to flip the sport on its head and win towards Brighton on Saturday, the identical right here to swat away the German champions.

Earlier than that, the competition felt like a charity match – and never simply due to the company in attendance that included Alonso, Rafa Benitez and Luis Garcia. Add BBC’s Stephen Warnock into the combination and it was an Istanbul 2005 reunion. It was a uninteresting affair which lacked jeopardy.

Alonso by accident timed his entrance from the tunnel awkwardly to coincide with Liverpool followers booing the Champions League anthem – carried out resulting from UEFA’s disgraceful dealing with of supporters on the 2022 ultimate – however the returning Spaniard acquired a heat reception thereafter.

He spent 30 seconds simply staring into the deep purple construction of the Kop, trying awestruck nonetheless at this floor – fully completely different to how he’ll bear in mind it. As per ritual, he touched the ‘This Is Anfield’ signal and shook arms with former team-mate Luis Garcia, now a pundit.

The Leverkusen boss waved to these within the Important Stand, although one suspects his hand was not directed at former boss Rafa Benitez, who was right here as a visitor within the posh seats. It was a fallout between the 2 Spaniards which sparked Alonso’s need to go away in 2009.

However after his pre-match niceties, Alonso regarded totally centered on his aspect’s activity forward. And he patrolled his technical space like a person possessed, clenching his fists and squatting in anxiousness, plus furiously waving his arms with directions.

How this homecoming should have made him want he may get again on the Anfield turf and dictate the sport as he so typically did down the years. As an alternative, he was crouched ready with out direct management on proceedings. His group adopted his orders completely, although.

Given the love for Alonso, this had exhibition match vibes to it. Nicely carried out, UEFA, that is the reward for bloating the calendar a lot that matches like these wouldn’t have an excellent deal driving on it, little to no jeopardy. At half-time, it felt like each groups would have shaken arms on a 0-0.

Liverpool had a number of half-chances within the opening 45 minutes however Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was by no means requested to make something apart from regulation saves. Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah had been all responsible of taking pictures straight on the Leverkusen No 1.

On the different finish, former Manchester Metropolis and Celtic man Jeremie Frimpong had a purpose dominated out for a handball within the build-up, and the identical participant additionally had a penalty shout turned down when he went down underneath Virgil van Dijk’s problem. He did take the person however it could have been comfortable.

Fifteen minutes of the second half ticked by with out a lot change and, like on Saturday, the Kop thought they finest play their half. Anfield discovered its voice to drown out the cackles of fireworks populating the night time sky and the noise appeared to behave as gasoline for the house gamers.

Ryan Gravenberch shimmied away from a few challenges and fed Mohamed Salah just for him to fluff his strains and miskick a shot from shut vary however, with the following assault, Jones took the ball on the half-turn and threaded an eye-of-the-needle move to Diaz.

The Colombian took a pleasant contact after which dinked goalkeeper Hradecky. Diaz had been beginning the match in an unfamiliar No 9 position and took some time to seek out his toes however this composed end was nearly as good as Slot may have requested for.

Minutes later, Salah discovered area on the correct and put a cross on a plate for Gakpo to attain his fourth purpose within the final week, after three towards Brighton – throughout two video games in numerous competitions.

Diaz put the icing on the cake on 83 minutes with a intelligent end after Salah popped up with one other help, and he accomplished his hat-trick in stoppage time to ship Liverpool high of the desk once more.