Bundesliga
Leverkusen humbled at Liverpool in Champions League
Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten start to the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League was ended in chastening fashion by Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Diaz 61' (assist: Jones), 2-0 Gakpo 63' (assist: Salah), 3-0 Diaz 83' (assist: Salah), 4-0 Diaz 90'+2 (assist: Núñez)
Xabi Alonso was back at Anfield following a decorated stint as a player with Liverpool that included 2004/05 Champions League glory. His Leverkusen team - unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB Cup winners last season - acquitted themselves well in the first half, albeit only creating one goal-scoring chance of note. Jeremie Frimpong put the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher at the end of it, but the referee's whistle sounded almost immediately for a handball in the build-up against the flying Dutchman. Prior to that, Mohamed Salah had drawn a diving save from Lukáš Hrádecký on the only occasion the English Premier League leaders had managed to breach the visiting Bayer defence.
Liverpool were much improved after the restart, though, and took the lead with just over an hour gone. Curtis Jones played in Luis Díaz, who beat Hrádecký with a quite brilliant chipped effort. Leverkusen fell further behind within two minutes as Cody Gakpo headed in unmarked from a Salah cross - the Dutchman's goal allowed to stand following a VAR review for a possible offside. Victor Boniface passed up a big opportunity to halve the deficit when he headed over from close range - a chance he was left to rue as Diaz put away his second of the contest to all but wrap up the points. Kelleher poured water on Leverkusen's attempts at a late comeback with three quick-fire saves, before Diaz completed his hat-trick at the death.
Match stats
- Leverkusen have seven points after four games (W2, D1, L1).
- Die Werkself lost for just the second time in their last 18 European fixtures.
- Alonso made 210 competitive appearances for Liverpool as a player between 2004 and 2009. One of his 18 goals on Merseyside came in the famous Miracle of Istanbul to beat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.
- The former midfield great was facing Liverpool for the first time as a head coach.
- Liverpool’s only defeat in their last 22 European meetings with German opposition came against Leverkusen, who won their 2001/02 Champions League quarter-final second leg 4-2 in the same season they reached the final.
- Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Ibrahima Konaté, Dominik Szoboszlai (both RB Leipzig) and Wataru Endo (VfB Stuttgart) are former Bundesliga players.
Teams
Liverpool: Kelleher - Alexander-Arnold (Bradley 80'), Konaté (Quansah 88'), Van Dijk (c), Tsimikas (Robertson 80') - Jones (Szoboszlai 74'), Gravenberch, Mac Allister - Salah, Gakpo (Núñez 80'), Díaz
Unused subs: Jaroš, Davies, Gomez, Endo, Morton
Out: Alisson (hamstring), Chiesa (muscular), Elliott (broken foot), Diogo Jota (upper body)
Coach: Arne Slot
Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios (Hofmann 74'), Grimaldo (Tella 81') - García (Andrich 73'), Wirtz - Boniface (Schick 81')
Unused subs: Kovář, Lomb, Arthur, Onyeka
Out: Adli (fibula), Belocian (ankle), Mukiele (thigh), Terrier (unconfirmed)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
As it happened!
4 - 0(0 - 0)
Liverpool
FINAL
Leverkusen
90' +3
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Goal! It's four!
It's four for Liverpool and three for Diaz, who again slot it home from close range after Núñez went close just moments before, but Leverkusen failed to clear.
88'
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Jarrell Quansah
Ibrahima Konate
87'
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Corner
Leverkusen win a corner, which is headed clear only as far as Frimpong who volleys an ambitious effort over the bar.
85'
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Schick tests Kelleher
The substitute gets a shot off from just inside the area, forcing the Liverpool 'keeper to get down low to keep it out.
84'
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Liverpool make it three!
Another cross from Salah, and another goal for Liverpool. This time Diaz is the scorer, taking down the cross before tucking the ball into the bottom corner
80'
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Patrik Schick
Victor Boniface
80'
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Nathan Tella
Alejandro Grimaldo
79'
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Andrew Robertson
Kostas Tsimikas
79'
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Connor Bradley
Trent Alexander Arnold
79'
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Darwin Núñez
Cody Gakpo
25'
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Aleix García
60'
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Lukáš Hrádecký
73'
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Dominik Szoboszlai
Curtis Jones
73'
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Robert Andrich
Aleix García
73'
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Jonas Hofmann
Exequiel Palacios
68'
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Great chance!
Boniface has a chance to pull one back with a header from about 12 yards out, but his effort bends past the post.
67'
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Shock to the system
Seemingly out of nowhere, Leverkusen find themselves two goals down. Having asserted themselves well in the first-half and early on in the second, they'll be disappointed to have conceded twice in quick succession.
65'
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Goal! The hosts double their lead
Salah puts in a brilliant low cross in from the right, finding Gakpo at the far post who heads home from a matter of yards out.
62'
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Goal! Liverpool take the lead
A wonderful defence-splitting pass from Jones finds the run of Diaz, who lifts the ball over Hrádecký from close range for the opening goal.
59'
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Uncharacteristic
Gakpo feeds Salah in the area but he gets his finish all wrong, skewing it wide for a goal-kick.
54'
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Jones fires over
The Liverpool midfielder manages to get a shot away in a crowded penalty area, but gets too much on it and sees it go over the bar.
50'
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Normal service resumed
Both sides have started the second-half quickly, continuing on from the first 45 minutes.
46'
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We're back!
The action has resumed here in Liverpool.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
14'
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First shot on target
Liverpool break quickly, eventually finding Diaz on the right hand-side of the penalty area, who lays it off for Gakpo to fire a shot straight at Hrádecký
11'
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Leverkusen looking assured
The passing from the visitors has been slick in the face of an intense press from Liverpool.
3'
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First sight of goal
Boniface has his first sight of goal of the night, slicing a first-time shot wide after an incisive pass from Frimpong on the right.
6'
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Liverpool coming alive
The hosts create their first opportunity of the night with Diaz sliding in Gakpo on the left-hand side of the box, but his shot is blocked by Tapsoba.
25'
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First yellow card
García receives the first yellow of the game after bringing down Salah.
27'
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Defending well
Leverkusen are weathering the storm as Liverpool intensify their search for the opening goal.
33'
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Free-kick in a good area
The hosts receive a free-kick a few yards outside the box after Diaz is fouled. Alexander Arnold steps up.
37'
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Grimaldo from distance
The Spaniard receives the ball centrally around 25 yards out and has a go, but his effort flies over.
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
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Late pressure
A powerful shot by Gakpo from a tight angle is straight at Hrádecký, who punches clear. Liverpool are increasing the pressure as the break approaches.
20'
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Penalty shout!
A chipped through ball from Wirtz finds Frimpong with the goal at his mercy, but he goes down under contact from Van Dijk. The referee says no penalty.
43'
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Goal disallowed!
Frimpong gets in behind and races toward goal before finishing brilliantly past Kelleher, but the goal is ruled out as he handled the ball in the build-up.
41'
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Free-kick Leverkusen
The visitors win a free-kick to the left of the box. Grimaldo whips it in and Kelleher comes to catch it.
35'
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Corner
The Englishman's free-kick is deflected out for a corner. Hrádecký claims it and Leverkusen can breathe.
1'
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We're underway!
Leverkusen kick us off here at Anfield.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
More on those teams
Leverkusen make two changes from their goalless draw against Stuttgart, with Exequiel Palacios and Aleix García coming in for Robert Andrich and Nordi Mukiele. Liverpool also make two changes from their previous league game, with Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz coming in for Darwin Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai.
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Liverpool starting lineup
Kelleher - Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk (c), Tsimikas - Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister - Salah, Gakpo, Díaz
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Liverpool subs
Jaroš, Davies, Gomez, Endo, Szoboszlai, Núñez, Robertson, Quansah, Morton, Bradley
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Leverkusen starting lineup
Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo - García, Wirtz - Boniface
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Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Lomb, Hofmann, Andrich, Arthur, Schick, Tella, Onyeka