The reception for Xabi Alonso in Liverpool was friendly, but Bayer Leverkusen were impressed by the atmosphere when they returned to Anfield – and deservedly lost in the end.
Impressed by the unique Anfield atmosphere, Bayer Leverkusen suffered their first defeat of this Champions League season when Xabi Alonso returned to Liverpool. After defensive misfires in the second half, the German champions lost 4-0 (0-0) in front of a loud crowd at Alonso’s former club.
The outstanding Luis Díaz (61st, 83rd and 90th + 2) and Cody Gakpo (65th) scored the goals for coach Arne Slot’s team. While the Reds secured themselves at the top of the table with their fourth win in their fourth game, Bayer slipped slightly.
Before the game, quite a few people wondered what the reception would be like for Alonso – and in the end it was just as the Basque had imagined: friendly but reserved. The 42-year-old did not want to be the focus of this special game for him.
Leverkusen were extremely challenged defensively
Alonso played for the Reds from 2004 to 2009 and, among other things, won the premier class, but this time the stage should belong to his players. Unlike their coach, most of them did not know the special atmosphere at Anfield. Unsurprisingly, they were impressed.
Liverpool dominated the game in which Leverkusen were extremely challenged defensively. Alonso and his coaching team came up with a special match plan: Exequiel Palacios, Granit Xhaka and Aleix Garcia, three central midfielders, were supposed to help gain control of the most important part of the pitch. Nevertheless, the Reds restricted the guests in their own half.
However, the hosts were initially unable to create any clear chances to score. Alonso described the Premier League leaders as “perhaps the best” team in Europe at the moment – but Bayer defended in a disciplined manner against his former club.
But no goal for Bayer
Liverpool were most dangerous on the flanks twice shortly before half-time, but Mohamed Salah (43′) and Gakpo (45’+2) were both denied by Hradecky. In the meantime, Jeremie Frimpong even gave Bayer the lead after a counterattack. However, his goal was disallowed due to a previous handball (43′).
Otherwise, viewers got an idea of why Alonso was at the top of Liverpool’s list to succeed Jürgen Klopp in the summer. Bayer didn’t have any brilliant moments of play, but Alonso initially slowed down the dominant hosts with his surprising formation – until what the former England professional Xhaka had warned about before the game happened.
Three goals in the second half
“Playing here is a big challenge – especially if you shake up the spectators a bit,” said the Swiss. And the LFC supporters actually encouraged their players louder and louder in the second half. In the middle of this pressure phase, Bayer made two major defensive lapses.
After a pass from Curtis Jones, the entire defense was initially undermined and Diaz went through freely, the Colombian sank the ball ice-cold. Gakpo briefly headed the ball to make it 2-0 after a Salah assist. Now Anfield was finally awakened – and then the game was decided: Díaz scored two more goals shortly before the end to make the final score.
jm/dpa
