Alonso stunned as Diaz runs riot

Luis Diaz scored a brilliant hat-trick to make it a miserable Anfield return for Xabi Alonso.

Colombia winger Diaz was recalled to the starting line-up after being rested for Saturday’s win against Brighton and made the most of his opportunity, scoring three times in the second half after Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen had shaded a low-key opening 45 minutes.

Cody Gakpo was also on the scoresheet as Liverpool maintained their 10o per cent record in the Champions League this season.

Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso, who was reportedly considered as a successor to Jurgen Klopp before Arne Slot got the job, was afforded a warm welcome back on Merseyside but he will go away alarmed at the way his team capitulated as the home side moved seamlessly through the gears.

Top of the Premier League.

Top of the Champions League.

Scoring goals and keeping clean sheets for fun.

The Arne Slot era is well underway 👏 pic.twitter.com/PhxGPXaclI

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Calm before the storm

For all the noise and passion that accompanied the kick-off, the opening to the game was subdued with neither side able to create any notable chances.

Alonso was on his feet after 21 minutes asking for a penalty as Jeremie Frimpong went down under the challenge of Virgil van Dijk but referee Danny Makkelie was unmoved.

Leverkusen were the better side with Liverpool’s only chance in the opening 40 minutes coming courtesy of a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick that hit the wall and went behind for a corner.

Mohamed Salah then tested Lukas Hradecky with a shot that brought a routine save from the visiting goalkeeper.

Leverkusen were left cursing the officiating once again on the stroke of half-time. Frimpong beat Kostas Tsimikas down the right before cutting inside and slotting his shot past Caoimhin Kelleher.

Makkelie penalised his fellow Dutchman for handball in the build-up, however, and VAR backed his decision.

The game continued to trundle along until it sparked into life in a frantic final half hour.

Liverpool v Leverkusen = The Luis Diaz Show ✨

All three goals from the Colombian in their 4-0 victory… ⚽️⚽️⚽️#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/fqh6uW0aQq

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First goal opens floodgates

Liverpool’s opener after 61 minutes was the catalyst. Curtis Jones was the architect with a wonderful, defence-splitting ball and Diaz did the rest with a clever, chipped finish over the advancing Hradecky.

It was 2-0 two minutes later, Salah crossing for Gakpo to head home, the goal given after a lengthy VAR check.

The hitherto boisterous Leverkusen fans were stunned and they almost witnessed a Liverpool third after 72 minutes but Alexis Mac Allister’s shot was well saved by Hradecky before Alexander-Arnold blazed the rebound over the bar.

It proved to be brief respite for the German champions as Diaz struck again after 83 minutes. Salah was again the creator with a right-wing cross that Diaz converted at the far post after shrugging off the challenge of Jonas Hofmann.

Anfield was bouncing but Diaz was not done yet and the former Porto winger netted again in injury time, reacting quickest after substitute Darwin Nunez’s shot was blocked by Piero Hincapie.