Liverpool's Luis Diaz scored a second-half hat-trick as they maintained their perfect Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory over Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Tuesday.
Arne Slot's men provisionally lead the standings of Europe's elite competition with their fourth win in four matches, with Aston Villa, the only other team with a 100% record, playing Club Brugge in their fourth game on Wednesday.
Diaz broke the deadlock of what had been a sluggish affair in stunning fashion in the 61st minute, timing his run onto Curtis Jones' pinpoint pass through the heart of Leverkusen's defence before lifting the ball over keeper Lukas Hradecky.
Gakpo doubled the Reds' lead two minutes later when he dived to head Mohamed Salah's cross home at the back post. The goal was initially ruled offside but the decision was overturned by VAR.
Diaz netted his second in the 83rd minute when he latched onto a cross from Salah, and then held off a challenge before slotting past Hradecky and he completed his hat-trick with a tap-in from close range in stoppage time.
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen latest news
- Alonso endures nightmare return as Diaz scores Liverpool hat-trick
- Alonso makes exciting prediction as 'complete' Liverpool thrash Leverkusen
- Slot sends Diaz message as Liverpool boss reflects on stunning start
Good night!
23:51 , Jonathan GorrieThanks for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool’s big win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Find our report and reaction below!
Slot sends Diaz message as Liverpool boss reflects on stunning start
23:50 , Jonathan GorrieLiverpool manager Arne Slot admits he did not imagine making such a stunning start to life at the club.
The Dutchman has overseen a remarkable 14 wins from his opening 16 games and saw his side go top of the new-look Champions League table with Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso makes exciting prediction as 'complete' Liverpool thrash Leverkusen
23:14 , Jonathan GorrieXabi Alonso believes it’s “looking good” for former club Liverpool this season.
The Bayer Leverkusen boss was strongly tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp earlier this year but decided to stay with the German side, who he ultimately led to a stunning domestic double.
Alonso, however, saw his Leverkusen team dismantled 4-0 in a second-half masterclass at Anfield, with Arne Slot’s side continuing their perfect record in the Champions League this season.
Alonso endures nightmare return as Diaz scores Liverpool hat-trick
21:57 , Jonathan GorrieLuis Diaz scored a hat-trick as Liverpool made light work of German champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League at Anfield.
FT: Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:54 , Jonathan GorrieA HUGE win for Liverpool, who improve after half-time again.
Nightmare return for Xabi Alonso.
GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen | Luis Diaz '90
21:51 , Jonathan Gorrie90 mins: GOAL!
Diaz gets his hat-trick after a searing counter!
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen | Luis Diaz '82
21:43 , Jonathan Gorrie82 mins: GOAL!
Well, they were happy to see it out. Until now.
Liverpool pick up the pace again and Salah plays the ball across to Diaz, who shrugs off his marker, takes a fine touch and fires home!
Liverpool 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:38 , Jonathan Gorrie77 mins: Liverpool now look happy to see this one out.
Liverpool 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:31 , Jonathan Gorrie71 mins: Some turnaround, this.
Arne Slot may favour control but there’s just nothing like the energy and passion of a European night at Anfield!
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen | Cody Gakpo '64
21:25 , Jonathan Gorrie64 mins: GOAL!
Liverpool up the tempo and Salah puts in a lovely cross for Gakpo, who nods home at the back post!
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen | Luis Diaz '60
21:21 , Jonathan Gorrie60 mins: GOAL!
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
A lovely ball from Jones finds Diaz between the two Leverkusen defenders and the Colombian hits a brilliant chip over the ‘keeper to give Liverpool the lead!
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:19 , Jonathan Gorrie59 mins: The home fans are raising the noise here in an effort to get something going on the pitch.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:17 , Jonathan Gorrie57 mins: Salah skews a shot way wide after good work from Gakpo.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:17 , Jonathan Gorrie56 mins: It’s relatively flat here.
Liverpool are seeing a lot more of the ball but are being frustrated.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:09 , Jonathan Gorrie49 mins: Much more intense from the hosts in the second half but their final ball is lacking...
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
21:09 , Jonathan GorrieBack underway!
HT: Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:50 , Jonathan Gorrie45 mins: No goals at the break!
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:48 , Jonathan Gorrie45 mins: Gakpo’s shot at the near post after a Liverpool break is saved by Hradecky.
DISALLOWED GOAL!
20:44 , Jonathan Gorrie41 mins: Jeremie Frimpong races through after a long ball and finishes well, though it’s ruled out for a handball in the build up.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:41 , Jonathan Gorrie40 mins: Like against Brighton on Saturday, Slot will be telling his Liverpool players to up the intensity in the second-half.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:3736 mins: Leverkusen clear the corner and look to counter but hit the ball straight out of play.
Sums up the game so far!
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:36 , Jonathan Gorrie35 mins: The wall does its job and deflects the free-kick over the bar.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:34 , Jonathan Gorrie33 mins: Diaz does well to win a free-kick off Xhaka just outside the Leverkusen box...
Trent Alexander-Arnold territory!
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:31 , Jonathan Gorrie30 mins: Liverpool can’t quite get a foot in here. Leverkusen aren’t giving them a second to think.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:2825 mins: A lovely outside of the boot cross from Salah is half cleared and Mac Allister looks for a volley, though can’t quite connect.
Slight sign of encouragement for the Reds after a flat few minutes.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:22 , Jonathan Gorrie20 mins: Good spell for Leverkusen, with Wirtz seeing a lot of the ball.
The Germany star feeds a lovely ball into an onrushing Frimpong in the Liverpool box and Van Dijk comes across, with the Leverkusen star hitting the deck.
Nothing given, however.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:20 , Jonathan Gorrie18 mins: Fireworks ring out into the Liverpool night but things are yet to really get going here.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:16 , Jonathan Gorrie15 mins: Tapsoba tries his luck from range but Kelleher is equal to it.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:15 , Jonathan Gorrie13 mins: Diaz drives infield and finds Salah, who squares back to Jones.
His shot, however, is easily saved. Still, a nice move from the hosts!
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:12 , Jonathan Gorrie10 mins: Hradecky has just sent a free-kick straight out play, much to the delight of the Anfield faithful.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:10 , Jonathan Gorrie08 mins: Liverpool are looking very dangerous going forward but Frimpong is giving them something to think about on the counter.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:07 , Jonathan Gorrie05 mins: First real Liverpool chance as Diaz drives though the middle and frees Gakpo, though his shot back across goal is saved.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:0504 mins: Gakpo, urged to shoot from range by the Anfield, takes too long on the ball and ultimately sees his shot blocked.
Liverpool 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen
20:03 , Jonathan Gorrie01 mins: First sight of goal for the away side as Frimpong squares the ball across to Boniface, though he skews his shot wide.
KICK-OFF!
20:01 , Jonathan GorrieAway we go!
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
19:51 , Jonathan GorrieClosing in on kick-off! Around ten minutes to go.
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
19:16 , Jonathan GorrieArne Slot’s pre-match thoughts...
Arne Slot on how he expects Leverkusen to line up against Liverpool...
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) November 5, 2024
Watch @LFC v Leverkusen coverage live now on Prime in the UK & Ireland 📺#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/5w99p5bvVp
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
19:13 , Jonathan GorrieTaking in the surroundings!
Platz: Check ✅
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) November 5, 2024
🔜 #LIVB04 | #UCL | #Bayer04 pic.twitter.com/sxHHV3PtFF
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
19:03 , Jonathan GorrieHere come the Reds!
Checking in for #UCL action 👋 pic.twitter.com/MqaVTFxabk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2024
Confirmed Bayer Leverkusen lineup
18:56 , Jonathan GorrieBayer Leverkusen XI: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo, Wirtz, Garcia, Boniface
Subs: Kovar, Lomb, Hofmann, Andrich, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Onyeka
Confirmed Liverpool lineup
18:49 , Jonathan GorrieLiverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
Subs: Jaros, Davies, Gomez, Endo, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Robertson, Quansah, Morton, Bradley
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
18:35 , Jonathan GorrieAnother huge night at Anfield!
Under the lights 💫 #UCL pic.twitter.com/ipaQW0LdFu
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2024
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen: Arne Slot sends Xabi Alonso message
18:04 , Jonathan GorrieThe Liverpool boss was full of praise for Xabi Alonso...
“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,” said Slot.
“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.
“They also had to show all of the characteristics of champions. There were games in which they were dominant, games in which they were not at their best but still found a way, and games in which their quality was so high that it was impossible not to view them as one of the strongest teams in Europe.”
Arne Slot reacts to Mohamed Salah's cryptic Instagram post as Liverpool future is questioned
18:01 , Jonathan GorrieArne Slot says he is not reading too much into Mohamed Salah's apparent cryptic social media post with regard to his Liverpool future.
The Egyptian forward is out of contract at the end of the season and the worry for Reds supporters, as things currently stand, is he will be able to speak to potential suitors outside of England and sign a pre-contract agreement from January 2025.
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen: Latest Champions League odds tonight
17:57 , Jonathan GorrieLiverpool to win: 4/6
Draw: 16/5
Bayer Leverkusen to win: 18/5
Odds via Betfair and subject to change.
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen: Head to head (h2h) history and results
17:42 , Jonathan GorrieLiverpool wins: 3
Draws: 0
Leverkusen wins: 1
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen: Champions League score prediction today
17:32 , Jonathan GorrieThe German champions will no doubt provide a stern test but Liverpool have been far too strong to overlook, especially at home.
There are chinks in their armour - with the manner of their victories over the past few weeks not as emphatic as previously - but Alonso’s side are this season struggling to turn draws into wins, which is the opposite of last season, so we’re giving the Reds the edge.
Liverpool to win, 2-1.
Liverpool team news vs Bayer Leverkusen today
17:31 , Jonathan GorrieLiverpool have been handed a major injury boost ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
Ibrahima Konate is available for selection after he took to social media on Sunday to allay any injury fears after he was forced off at half-time against Brighton.
The defender had used his shirt as a makeshift sling to support his left arm after he came off worse from a clash at a corner.
However, Arne Slot said at his pre-match press conference: "He's available to play. I think he's completely recovered so he can play. Then it's up to me to make the decision if he plays or not. He's in a good place."
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen: TV channel and live stream for Champions League tonight
17:31 , Jonathan GorrieTV channel: The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Amazon Prime website and app.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
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Welcome
17:12 , Jonathan GorrieGood evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool’s clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
Kick-off in the Champions League at Anfield tonight is at 8pm GMT.
