Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Diaz hat-trick gives Reds easy win
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: The Reds are top of the Champions League after a rout at Anfield
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool moved to the top of the Champions League table and kept their European winning streak going with a fine outing against Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.
Xabi Alonso’s German champions were solid and secure in a tentative first half that lacked quality in front of goal. Luis Diaz found the goalkeeper’s gloves and Jeremie Frimpong had a goal ruled out for offside as the teams traded blows.
The second half was all Liverpool. Three goals, two for Diaz and one for Cody Gakpo ensured they left the field with three points and another notch to Arne Slot’s reputation. Diaz’s first was made by Curtis Jones who slipped a fine pass into the box before Diaz chipped the goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Mo Salah then set up the second with a cross to Gakpo who headed home a few minutes later. That broke Leverkusen’s resistance and the Reds added a late third as Salah found Diaz for his second of the night.
Diaz wasn’t done though. With three minutes of added time, Liverpool countered and Darwin Nunez set Diaz up to complete his hat-trick.
Relive the Champions League action with our live blog below:
HT Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
Here’s a look at Frimpong’s disallowed goal. It’s the only moment of real excitement we’ve had in this close match so far.
HT Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
Half-time! Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
45+2 mins: An entertaing half of football comes to an end with neither team ahead. There have been good moments at both ends of the pitch but we need a goal to liven things up again.
Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
43 mins: Disallowed!
An aerial ball comes up the pitch towards Jeremie Frimpong on the right. He challenges Kostas Tsimikas and comes away with the ball.
Frimpong drives into the box and fizzes a shot past Caoimhin Kelleher and finds the back of the net.
The flag then goes up and replays show Frimpong handled the ball while tussling with Tsimikas.
Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
42 mins: Salah sprints down the right flank after Alexander-Arnold sets him free with a quick pass. He darts inside, rolls the ball onto his left foot then shoots but hits the goalkeeper.
Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
39 mins: Florian Wirtz and Kostas Tsimikas come together as they attempt to both win a long ball. Tsimikas is semi-successful but his efforts only send the ball out of play for a throw in.
Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
36 mins: Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold stand over the ball and debate who should take the set piece. Alexander-Arnold looks to curl a shot into the near top corner but a deflection off the wall takes it behind for a corner.
Kostas Tsimikas whips the corner into the box but picks out Lukas Hradecky.
Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
33 mins: The came has just settled into a steady to-and-fro rhythm. A goal kick from Lukas Hradecky is won in the air by Virgil van Dijk.
He nods the ball up to Mo Salah who flicks it on for Luis Diaz. Diaz is brought down and Liverpool have a penalty in a danergous area.
Liverpool 0-0 Leverkusen
30 mins: Half an hour played and nothing to separate the teams. Liverpool have had their moments but Leverkusen are well drilled and solid in defence.
The core back three haven’t made it easy for the hosts in this half.
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