A cagey first half without many chances for either side left the score 0-0 at half-time.

However Arne Slot’s men came out firing in the second half. Luis Diaz opened the flood gates after 61 minutes with a neat chip over Lukas Hradecky. Moments later Liverpool would double the lead when Cody Gakpo headed the ball home. Luis Diaz would go on to score two more and complete his first hat-trick for Liverpool, winning the game 4-0.

Liverpool FC: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.

Subs: Szobozslai, Nunez, Robertson Bradley, Quansah

Bayer 04 Leverkuse: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Garcia, Boniface.

Subs: Andrich, Hofmann, Schick, Tella.

Liverpool and Leverkusen fans imaculatly observed a minute silence for the victims of the deadly flooding in Valencia.

First Half

Liverpool had the first chance of the half. Luis Diaz carried the ball from the half way line into dangerous territory before playing it to Mohamed Salah. One touch to control and the second touch to set Curtis Jones whose effort was tame and straight at Lukas Hradecky.

Leverkusen didn’t sit back and went after Liverpool. A neat chipped through pass from Florian Wirtz found Jeremy Frimpong in front of goal. The Dutch international went over in the box particularly easy. Referee Danny Makkelie waved play on.

Xabi Alonso’s side thought they had they lead just before half time. Jeremy Frimpong went through on 43 minutes after beating Kostas Tsimikas. The chance was dispatched calmly on his right foot across goal. However VAR chalked the goal off after noticing a handball from Frimpong in the build-up.

Second half

Ryan Gravenberch slipped a pass in behind the Leverkusen defence. Mohamed Salah would control the pass and rather oddly snatch at the chance with his right foot. He should’ve done better.

After this Anfield could sense the tide turning. Chants of ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ rang round the stadium in an effort to suck the ball into the Leverkusen net.

Just moments later that’s exactly what would happen. A perfectly weighted pass from Curtis Jones would find Luis Diaz who calmly chipped it over Lukas Hradecky to open the score, 1-0.

2 minutes later Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah would link up down the right. Salah would cross the ball at pace to the far post for Cody Gakpo to dive and head home doubling Liverpools lead. The goal was initially ruled out by the linesman, however VAR would overturn the decision and award the goal, 2-0.

Liverpool continued to attack throughout the second half. Mohamed Salah, out wide on the right, would cut back onto his left foot but lifting a looping cross to the far post. Luis Diaz would show unbelievable strength to win the physical battle against Jonas Hofmann and then calmly roll the ball past Lukas Hradecky, 3-0.

Into additional time now and substitute Darwin Nunez would lead a 4 vs 2 break for Liverpool. Going on his own, his shot would be blocked by Piero Hincapié, only to fall to Luis Diaz to dispatch calmly at the near post. Completing the Columbians first ever LFC hat-trick, 4-0.

This win sends Liverpool to the top of the UEFA Champions League with only Aston Villa who can equal their 100% record.

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