XAB IN THE DARK
Liverpool 4 Bayer Leverkusen 0: Xabi Alonso leaves empty handed on Anfield return as Luis Diaz hits hat-trick
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XABI ALONSO had seen it many times before - a visiting team getting absolutely torn apart on a European night in front of the Kop.
Unfortunately for the Bayer Leverkusen manager, on his return to his former home of Anfield, there was nothing he could do to stop his team from suffering a ferocious second half mauling.
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Alonso’s side, who won the German League and Cup double last season, arrived on Merseyside with a swagger and were giving a pretty decent account of themselves.
Yet in the space of three minutes, it all went horribly wrong. And then, it got even worse.
Luis Diaz scored a terrific opening goal and with the home crowd baying for blood - even though it was Alonso’s - Cody Gakpo headed the second even though it was initially ruled out by VAR.
Diaz then got his second, and then third, for his first Liverpool hat-trick. This capped a brilliant second half, the best of Arne Slot’s short reign.
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Liverpool played with so much speed and intensity and they were clinical when it really mattered, against a really decent defence.
This will have been really tough viewing for Alonso. He could have had the Liverpool job if he wanted it and maybe, one day, he will get the gig on Merseyside.
But for now, Liverpool will be absolutely delighted over appointing Slot. It is now 14 wins, one draw and a defeat.
Liverpool struggled against Brighton on Saturday but after conceding, hit back with two goals in as many minutes.
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And they used a similar type of whirlwind performance to knock the stuffing out of Leverkusen who had been brilliantly organised at the back but were then exposed horribly.
Slot already seems to be getting the big calls right. He made just two changes from the Brighton game and they were Luiz and Curtis Jones, who combined brilliantly for the opening goal.
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Maybe Alonso should have known it was going to be one of those nights.
The Spanish manager does not get much wrong but he could not have timed his walk out of the tunnel any worse before kick-off because it was just as Liverpool’s fans started booing the Champions League anthem.
It is strange that after leaving Liverpool in 2009 and despite having played for both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Alonso never returned to Anfield as a player.
He also touched the 'This is Anfield' sign before heading out of the tunnel to see his team warm up.
But as he walked out before kick-off to jeers, Alonso still acknowledged the home supporters in the main stand who applauded him when he reached his seat.
Before the game, Alonso insisted that Liverpool were the best team in Europe. Despite an easy start in the Premier League, their recent results have been impressive.
Leverkusen had more of the ball - 58 per possession in the first half - and they even created the odd chance.
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka hammered a thunderbolt which smacked Virgil van Dijk flush in the face and unsurprisingly, floored the Reds captain.
Dutch ref Danny Makkelie stopped play for his fellow countryman.
Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface was a handful although needed treatment after he ran into the advertising boards in front of the Kop after firing a shot into the side netting.
Equally, Alonso’s team defended well with their back five when Liverpool had the ball and gave them very few opportunities.
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Gakpo should also have done better rather than fire a shot straight at keeper Lukas Hradecky, although that came after a big scare for the home team.
Jeremie Frimpong thought he had put Leverkusen ahead with a cracking finish but the linesman correctly spotted a handball - even though it was accidental - as the Dutchman got past Kostas Tsimikas before beating Caoimhin Kelleher with his shot.
Liverpool still struggled in the second half and when a golden chance did fall to Mo Salah, it fell on his right foot and he made a complete mess of the opportunity.
It needed something special and Curtis Jones delivered it with the quality pass and Diaz produced an absolutely sublime finish for the first goal in the 61 st minute.
Slot will have been delighted with that combination, given his tactical decision before kick off.
Gakpo thought his header from Salah’s brilliant cross had been ruled out for offside but after a VAR check, it was given.
And it was from another Salah cross which saw Diaz have too much power for a defender before sticking in the third from close range.
He then completed the hat-trick in injury time from close range to clinch the match ball.
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Already, it looks certain that Liverpool will finish in the top eight of the Champions League meaning they would miss the play-off round in February.
And considering how many games Slot’s side could end up playing this year, avoiding a couple of European games could be crucial.
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