Ruthless Liverpool spoils Alonso’s return to Anfield

Liverpool’s Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal 

Xabi Alonso endured a miserable return to Anfield as Liverpool thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0, thanks to a Luis Diaz hat-trick, to go top of the Champions League table.

Cody Gakpo was also on target as the Reds maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe after four games.

Alonso, a Champions League winner during his playing days in the Liverpool midfield, turned his back on succeeding Jurgen Klopp to remain at Leverkusen after leading it to an unbeaten German League and Cup double last season.

Liverpool, though, is not left wondering what might have been as Arne Slot continued his stunning start as Manager with a 14th win in 16 games in all competitions.

Leverkusen remains on seven points from its opening four Champions League matches after another sobering night for their ambitions to match the heights they hit last season.

Liverpool’s best opening of the half came seconds later when Curtis Jones’ excellent pass finally found some space for Gakpo but his powerful effort was repelled at his near post by Lukas Hradecky.

Mohamed Salah should have done better when he sliced wide after a jinking run through the Leverkusen midfield by Ryan Gravenberch.

A cagey tactical battle was sparked into life on the hour mark by a moment of stunning quality.

Jones spun his marker before splitting the Leverkusen defence with a pinpoint pass for Diaz, who nonchalantly chipped the advancing Hradecky. Moments later, Liverpool had killed the visitors off with another flowing move.

Salah’s driven cross was headed in at the back post by the flying Gakpo. The linesman raised his flag to momentarily silence the celebrations, but a VAR review showed the Dutch forward was onside for his sixth goal of the season.

Victor Boniface headed wide with a huge chance to bring Leverkusen immediately back into the game.

Instead, Liverpool pulled further clear seven minutes from time when Diaz controlled Salah’s looping cross and fired home.

The Colombian then rounded off the scoring with his ninth of the season in stoppage time with another clinical finish after Darwin Nunez’s blocked shot fell into his path. (Agencies)