Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten start to the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League was ended in chastening fashion by Liverpool at Anfield.

Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Diaz 61' (assist: Jones), 2-0 Gakpo 63' (assist: Salah), 3-0 Diaz 83' (assist: Salah), 4-0 Diaz 90'+2 (assist: Núñez)

Xabi Alonso was back at Anfield following a decorated stint as a player with Liverpool that included 2004/05 Champions League glory. His Leverkusen team - unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB Cup winners last season - acquitted themselves well in the first half, albeit only creating one goal-scoring chance of note. Jeremie Frimpong put the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher at the end of it, but the referee's whistle sounded almost immediately for a handball in the build-up against the flying Dutchman. Prior to that, Mohamed Salah had drawn a diving save from Lukáš Hrádecký on the only occasion the English Premier League leaders had managed to breach the visiting Bayer defence.

Liverpool were much improved after the restart, though, and took the lead with just over an hour gone. Curtis Jones played in Luis Díaz, who beat Hrádecký with a quite brilliant chipped effort. Leverkusen fell further behind within two minutes as Cody Gakpo headed in unmarked from a Salah cross - the Dutchman's goal allowed to stand following a VAR review for a possible offside. Victor Boniface passed up a big opportunity to halve the deficit when he headed over from close range - a chance he was left to rue as Diaz put away his second of the contest to all but wrap up the points. Kelleher poured water on Leverkusen's attempts at a late comeback with three quick-fire saves, before Diaz completed his hat-trick at the death.

Match stats

• Leverkusen have seven points after four games (W2, D1, L1).
• Die Werkself lost for just the second time in their last 18 European fixtures.
• Alonso made 210 competitive appearances for Liverpool as a player between 2004 and 2009. One of his 18 goals on Merseyside came in the famous Miracle of Istanbul to beat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.
• The former midfield great was facing Liverpool for the first time as a head coach.
• Liverpool’s only defeat in their last 22 European meetings with German opposition came against Leverkusen, who won their 2001/02 Champions League quarter-final second leg 4-2 in the same season they reached the final.
• Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Ibrahima Konaté, Dominik Szoboszlai (both RB Leipzig) and Wataru Endo (VfB Stuttgart) are former Bundesliga players.

Teams

Liverpool: Kelleher - Alexander-Arnold (Bradley 80'), Konaté (Quansah 88'), Van Dijk (c), Tsimikas (Robertson 80') - Jones (Szoboszlai 74'), Gravenberch, Mac Allister - Salah, Gakpo (Núñez 80'), Díaz
Unused subs: Jaroš, Davies, Gomez, Endo, Morton
Out: Alisson (hamstring), Chiesa (muscular), Elliott (broken foot), Diogo Jota (upper body)
Coach: Arne Slot

Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios (Hofmann 74'), Grimaldo (Tella 81') - García (Andrich 73'), Wirtz - Boniface (Schick 81')
Unused subs: Kovář, Lomb, Arthur, Onyeka
Out: Adli (fibula), Belocian (ankle), Mukiele (thigh), Terrier (unconfirmed)
Coach: Xabi Alonso 

As it happened!

4 - 0

(0 - 0)

Liverpool

FINAL

Leverkusen

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 4 League phase, Matchday 4 Anfield, Liverpool

Full-time: Liverpool 4-0 Leverkusen

It was a tale of two halves for the visitors, who offered very little in the second-half. They failed to respond to Liverpool pushing them back into their own final third, and then faced an avalanche of goals, with Luis Diaz scoring three in an emphatic win for the hosts.

© IMAGO/Jessica Hornby

Full-time

90'

+ 3

Goal! It's four!

It's four for Liverpool and three for Diaz, who again slot it home from close range after Núñez went close just moments before, but Leverkusen failed to clear.

90'

+ 2

Luis Diaz

GOAL!

4:0

88'

Substitution

Jarrell Quansah

Ibrahima Konate

87'

Corner

Leverkusen win a corner, which is headed clear only as far as Frimpong who volleys an ambitious effort over the bar.

85'

Schick tests Kelleher

The substitute gets a shot off from just inside the area, forcing the Liverpool 'keeper to get down low to keep it out.

84'

Liverpool make it three!

Another cross from Salah, and another goal for Liverpool. This time Diaz is the scorer, taking down the cross before tucking the ball into the bottom corner

83'

Luis Diaz

GOAL!

3:0

80'

Substitution

Patrik Schick

Victor Boniface

80'

Substitution

Nathan Tella

Alejandro Grimaldo

79'

Substitution

Andrew Robertson

Kostas Tsimikas

79'

Substitution

Connor Bradley

Trent Alexander Arnold

79'

Substitution

Darwin Núñez

Cody Gakpo

Getting away from them

The game seems to be escaping from Leverkusen's grasp, as they're struggling to get out of their half and maintain possession

© IMAGO/Peter Byrne

73'

Substitution

Dominik Szoboszlai

Curtis Jones

73'

Substitution

Robert Andrich

Aleix García

73'

Substitution

Jonas Hofmann

Exequiel Palacios

68'

Great chance!

Boniface has a chance to pull one back with a header from about 12 yards out, but his effort bends past the post.

67'

Shock to the system

Seemingly out of nowhere, Leverkusen find themselves two goals down. Having asserted themselves well in the first-half and early on in the second, they'll be disappointed to have conceded twice in quick succession.

65'

Goal! The hosts double their lead

Salah puts in a brilliant low cross in from the right, finding Gakpo at the far post who heads home from a matter of yards out.

63'

Cody Gakpo

GOAL!

2:0

62'

Goal! Liverpool take the lead

A wonderful defence-splitting pass from Jones finds the run of Diaz, who lifts the ball over Hrádecký from close range for the opening goal.

61'

Luis Diaz

GOAL!

1:0

60'

Yellow card

Lukáš Hrádecký

59'

Uncharacteristic

Gakpo feeds Salah in the area but he gets his finish all wrong, skewing it wide for a goal-kick.

Penned in

Leverkusen are sat deep in their own half as Liverpool seize control of possession.

© PAUL ELLIS

54'

Jones fires over

The Liverpool midfielder manages to get a shot away in a crowded penalty area, but gets too much on it and sees it go over the bar.

50'

Normal service resumed

Both sides have started the second-half quickly, continuing on from the first 45 minutes.

46'

We're back!

The action has resumed here in Liverpool.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen

In an entertaining first-half, neither side was able to find the breakthrough. Both sides were confident in possession and moved the ball with purpose, however, they were both equally adept at defending and found it difficult to break the other side down.

© PAUL ELLIS

Half-time

45'

Late pressure

A powerful shot by Gakpo from a tight angle is straight at Hrádecký, who punches clear. Liverpool are increasing the pressure as the break approaches.

43'

Goal disallowed!

Frimpong gets in behind and races toward goal before finishing brilliantly past Kelleher, but the goal is ruled out as he handled the ball in the build-up.

41'

Free-kick Leverkusen

The visitors win a free-kick to the left of the box. Grimaldo whips it in and Kelleher comes to catch it.

37'

Grimaldo from distance

The Spaniard receives the ball centrally around 25 yards out and has a go, but his effort flies over.

35'

Corner

The Englishman's free-kick is deflected out for a corner. Hrádecký claims it and Leverkusen can breathe.

33'

Free-kick in a good area

The hosts receive a free-kick a few yards outside the box after Diaz is fouled. Alexander Arnold steps up.

27'

Defending well

Leverkusen are weathering the storm as Liverpool intensify their search for the opening goal.

25'

Yellow card

Aleix García

25'

First yellow card

García receives the first yellow of the game after bringing down Salah.

20'

Penalty shout!

A chipped through ball from Wirtz finds Frimpong with the goal at his mercy, but he goes down under contact from Van Dijk. The referee says no penalty.

Figuring each other out

There's been a good intensity to the game so far, but neither side has been able to create a clear chance yet.

© IMAGO/Gareth Evans/News Images

14'

First shot on target

Liverpool break quickly, eventually finding Diaz on the right hand-side of the penalty area, who lays it off for Gakpo to fire a shot straight at Hrádecký

11'

Leverkusen looking assured

The passing from the visitors has been slick in the face of an intense press from Liverpool.

6'

Liverpool coming alive

The hosts create their first opportunity of the night with Diaz sliding in Gakpo on the left-hand side of the box, but his shot is blocked by Tapsoba.

3'

First sight of goal

Boniface has his first sight of goal of the night, slicing a first-time shot wide after an incisive pass from Frimpong on the right.

1'

We're underway!

Leverkusen kick us off here at Anfield.

Kick-off!

Both sides out for the warm up

As kick-off draws closer, both sides are getting their final preparations in.

© IMAGO/David Blunsden

More on those teams

Leverkusen make two changes from their goalless draw against Stuttgart, with Exequiel Palacios and Aleix García coming in for Robert Andrich and Nordi Mukiele. Liverpool also make two changes from their previous league game, with Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz coming in for Darwin Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Liverpool starting lineup

Kelleher - Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk (c), Tsimikas - Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister - Salah, Gakpo, Díaz

Liverpool subs

Jaroš, Davies, Gomez, Endo, Szoboszlai, Núñez, Robertson, Quansah, Morton, Bradley

Leverkusen starting lineup

Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo - García, Wirtz - Boniface

Leverkusen subs

Kovář, Lomb, Hofmann, Andrich, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Onyeka

Alonso's Liverpool history

Xabi Alonso played 210 games for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009 scoring 19 goals. His most famous strike came in the 2005 Champions League final when the Reds came from 3-0 down against AC Milan before winning on penalties. Alonso also won an FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup and remains a legend at Anfield.

© Mike Hewitt

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk on Leverkusen

"It is hard not to be impressed by what Bayer Leverkusen have done over the past 12 months or so. They have been one of the best and most consistent teams in Europe, achieving incredible things in Germany last season. They have a good manager, one who is very familiar to our supporters of course, and they will arrive at Anfield highly motivated, ready to give us a really tough test."

Slot on Alonso

“Xabi was a top-class player and he is proving himself to be of the same level as a manager. I would like to welcome him back to Anfield and I know that in doing so I will be in tune with the feelings of everyone who is inside the stadium tonight. In doing this, though, we are all aware that there will be no sentimentality from him and this means that there cannot be any from us."

© Jan Kruger

Liverpool's Arne Slot on Leverkusen

“Bayer Leverkusen are a side which has the ability to hurt any opponent so we have to be ready for this reality and face up to it with as much energy, quality and intensity that we can produce. Everyone in football was impressed with what Leverkusen did last season. How could you not be? To become champions of Germany is a wonderful achievement in itself but to do so without losing a single game makes it even more remarkable."

Xhaka on Mohamed Salah

"He brings a lot of quality. He's had an incredible career and continued to improve. He's become a big legend here, in my opinion. You certainly have to double-up on him because he's always dangerous - particularly on his left foot, but he also makes a lot of assists and is physically strong."

© Jan Kruger

Alonso on Liverpool

"We can expect a great game at this special place. They're in very good form at the moment – both in the Premier League and in the Champions League. They play a very high speed and intensity and have several options in the squad. They're one of the best teams in Europe."

Liverpool team news

Arne Slot will be without Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota for this encounter, while Ibrahim Konaté may be unavailable after suffering an injury against Brighton. The main threat to the Leverkusen back line is, of course, Mohamed Salah, who has nine goals and seven assists in all competitions this term.

© IMAGO/Visionhaus

Leverkusen team news

Amine Adli, Jeanuël Belocian and Nordi Mukiele are all expected to be on the sidelines for this clash. Otherwise, though, Alonso has a full squad to choose from. Victor Boniface should lead the line once more, with Florian Wirtz sitting in behind him.

© IMAGO/Joachim Bywaletz

Familiar faces

There are four former Bundesliga players in the Liverpool squad. While Ibrahim Konaté, previously of RB Leipzig, could miss out due to injury, Dominik Szoboszlai (Leipzig), Wataru Endō (Stuttgart) and Ryan Gravenberch could all feature.

Liverpool flourishing post-Klopp

Jürgen Klopp was an emblematic figure during his time in the Anfield dugout, but replacement Arne Slot has adapted to the scrutiny and pressure fantastically since taking over in the summer. Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League table, winning eight out of their 10 matches so far, while they have won all three of their opening UEFA Champions League matches - RB Leipzig were one of their victims.

3:52

Watch: All of Victor Boniface's Bundesliga goals

Xabi Alonso will be eager to see a strong performance from the Nigerian. Enjoy all of his goals in the German top flight to remind yourself of how lethal he can be.

Previous meetings

These two teams have met in this competition four times before, with the Premier League side dominating their previous encounters. They won three and drew one of those four meetings, the last of which was a 3-1 win away at the BayArena in the 2004/05 season.

Undefeated...so far

Leverkusen are yet to lose in Europe this season, winning two and drawing one of their UCL fixtures so far. They'll do well to maintain this record against the Premier League table toppers Liverpool, who have won three from three and conceded just one goal in the competition.

1:01

Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 VfB Stuttgart - highlights

Leverkusen come into this game on the back of a goalless draw at home to Stuttgart.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's fourth UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at Liverpool on Tuesday.

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