How’s that for exactly three months on the job for Arne Slot: top of the Premier League and top of the UEFA Champions League — that’s where Liverpool are after hammering reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday.
[ MORE: UEFA Champions League table | Champions League schedule & scores ]
Luis Diaz sparked the Reds’ attack to life right on the hour mark as he scored his first of three goals on the night, before Cody Gakpo headed home just two minutes later to put the game out of reach and unleash a tidal wave of shots, expected goals and goal goals in the final 25 minutes.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool looking more like Jurgen Klopp’s
Prior to Diaz’s opener, Liverpool had amassed 0.93 xG on 12 shots in 60 minutes. From the goal onward, 3.19 xG on 10 shots. Liverpool didn’t just have a bunch of shots in the second half, they had a handful of absolutely-must-score chances — and they scored a good bunch of them. It’s not the first time this season week that a slow, unimaginative performance has been turned around by a more proactive, aggressive, counter-attacking approach later in the game. At their core, this is who these Liverpool players are, and Slot would be mad to try to stamp that out of them completely just to “make it his team” in year 1. Having two completely different modes of play — whether you need a goal or you’re defending your own — should serve Slot and Co., rather well as they compete on multiple fronts this season. Such balance and flexibility was something Jurgen Klopp could never quite master.
Player ratings - Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen live updates - by Andy Edwards
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen live score: 4-0
Goalscorers: Luis Diaz (61', 83', 90'+2), Cody Gakpo (65')
GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Luis Diaz gets his hat trick in stoppage time (90'+2)
LUCHO DíAZ GETS HIS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HAT TRICK 🎩🪄 pic.twitter.com/K6OCRgsIha
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 5, 2024
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Luis Diaz caps a brilliant second-half display with another (83')
Luis Díaz made it look so easy ✌️
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 5, 2024
That ball from Mo Salah though 🔥 pic.twitter.com/U9w0R9fPdo
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Cody Gakpo heads home Mohamed Salah’s cross (65')
They had to wait, but VAR confirms a second for Liverpool through Cody Gakpo 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nda5DbAHuS
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 5, 2024
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Luis Diaz finishes Curtis Jones’ brilliant through ball (61')
The ball from Curtis Jones and the CHEEKY Luis Díaz finish 😳
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 5, 2024
Anfield loved that one 👏 pic.twitter.com/FebrhSqnYK
HANDBALL! NO GOAL! Jeremie Frimpong beats Kelleher after handling the ball at midfield
Frimpong came out of a 50-50 challenge against Kostas Tsimikas with the ball, raced in behind Liverpool’s defense and fired a rocket past Caoimhin Kelleher from the edge of the penalty area. And then the whistle came for a suspected handball in the coming-together with Tsimikas. Video review confirmed the offense. No goal.
Liverpool starting lineup
Kelleher - Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas - Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister - Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
Bayer Leverkusen starting lineup
Hradecky - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Wirtz, Garcia, Boniface
How to watch Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday (November 5)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
How to watch: Stream on Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Liverpool team news, focus
Kelleher has stepped in really well for Alisson since his injury, while Darwin Nunez has been sharp and more involved in build-up play since replacing the injured Jota up top. Other than that Liverpool’s defensive unit is solid with Tsimikas and Robertson rotating at left back. Konate is fit to start after the center back suffered an arm injury at the weekend but has recovered quickly. The midfield trio of Jones, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai have also worked really well together, with Mac Allister being rotated in to add further depth. Salah has been sensational in the opening months of the season with Gakpo, Diaz and Nunez all stepping up to support him at different times.
OUT: Alisson (hamstring), Diogo Jota (chest), Federico Chiesa (other), Harvey Elliott (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Ibrahima Konate (arm)
Bayer Leverkusen team news, focus
Leverkusen aren’t panicking just yet but it has been a slow start to the season. They haven’t looked quite as dangerous in attack and have looked a little shaky in defense, as Alonso tries to get them going again. After an incredible few seasons this start to the season seems like a drop-off but in reality Leverkusen are right up there in the Champions League and within a few wins of top spot in the Bundesliga. All is not lost and this is still an extremely young and talented squad with Boniface and Wirtz so dangerous in attack.
OUT: Amine Adli (broken leg), Jeanuel Belocian (ankle), Nordi Mukiele (hip) | QUESTIONABLE: Martin Terrier (knock)
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction
This seems like it will be a fun game as Liverpool will take it to Leverkusen and the first 30 minutes is pivotal for the German side. Expect plenty of goals and Liverpool to edge it. Liverpool 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen.
