Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen – UEFA Champions League result as a hat-trick from Luis Diaz and a goal from Cody Gakpo marred Xabi Alonso's return to Anfield

DIAZ TREBLE SANKS ALONSOS LEVERKUSEN AS THE REDS STAY PERFECT IN THE UCL

Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick and Cody Gakpo also scored as Liverpool continued their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League with a comfortable 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen that canceled out Xabi Alonso's return to Anfield.

The Bundesliga champions were initially well coached by the former Reds midfielder and coach and limited Arne Slot's team to a few attacks in the first half, in which both teams neutralized each other.

That all changed when the Merseysiders took a two-goal lead after the hour and took control of the game.

First, Diaz raced on from a superb pass from Curtis Jones and provided a mischievous finish in the 61st minute, before Gakpo's powerful header scored the second goal just two minutes later when VAR intervened after a cross from Mo Salah and his goal was on the Brought the offside line under control.

Diaz then put the icing on the cake seven minutes from time when he converted another excellent shot from Salah before securing the ball with a simple finish in stoppage time.

It capped a lively and much-improved second-half performance from the home side, leaving former Kop hero Alonso behind at the end of another magical European evening at Anfield.

The result means Liverpool sit alone at the top of the UEFA Champions League group standings with four wins out of four.

Leverkusen is five points further back in ninth place after their first defeat in the competition.
Liverpool will now look to maintain their top spot in the Premier League when they take on Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Leverkusen, fourth in the Bundesliga, is visiting Bochum.