Xabi Alonso blown away by Luis Diaz's hat-trick on Anfield return - 5 talking points
LIVERPOOL 4-0 BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Luis Diaz bagged a treble and Cody Gakpo was on target as Xabi Alonso's side were well beaten at Anfield
Liverpool turned it on in the final half an hour to see off Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen team on the Reds legend's Anfield return.
After a fairly drab first half the only real talking point was Jeremie Frimpong's correctly disallowed goal for handball, before the Reds took over in the second period.
Curtis Jones's superb through ball played Luis Diaz in to dink home the opener at the Kop end, before Mo Salah crossed for Cody Gakpo to head in moments later, with the goal eventually given by VAR.
Diaz fired home a third with seven minutes remaining before completing his hat-trick late on as the Reds made it four wins out of four in the Champions League. Here are the main talking points.
1. Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in Changing Places
Given that we've all come to understand Slot's rotations in defence and midfield, it was the Reds manager's attacking selection that caught the eye from the off, with Diaz and Gakpo both in from the start and Darwin Nunez on the bench.
Six days ago Diaz and Gakpo played as two nominal wide forwards in what often looked like a 4-4-2 in the Carabao Cup win at Brighton, while the pair both had positions in an attack-minded 4-2-4 as the Premier League game against the same opponents was successfully chased at the weekend.
Here though they slotted into the usual three-pronged attack that we've got used to, but with Diaz centrally and Gakpo on the left. This represents an intriguing change from Slot, with Gakpo in particular benefitting from being given a clearer position in the side, and Diaz able to take what he does so well out wide and do it running directly at the goal.
Both players are often competing for the same position, but here they were in the same side again and both getting on the scoresheet, each showing the benefits of where their manager is trusting them. They are two of the many success stories of Slot's season.
2. Florian Wirtz shows his worth
The first half won't live long in anyone's memory, but other than the illumination from the fireworks above it was occasionally lit up by the touches and the technique of Florian Wirtz, who cleverly dropped into smart positions in between Liverpool's defence and attack to great effect.
It didn't quite lead to anything really resembling an end product, but it was an exciting glimpse of a player who shone in his side's unbeaten league-winning campaign last season. If this is to be Wirtz's final season with Leverkusen then Liverpool should get themselves in the conversation for him.
3. Another slow and scoreless first half for Liverpool
It might be a minor quibble for now given his excellent start in his new job, but this was the third successive game in which Slot saw his side fail to score in the first half, and in the one before that they were 2-1 down to Arsenal at the break.
Slow starts are becoming something of a theme of late, and while the opposition here were a large reason for that, Liverpool never really got into any form of gear.
We all know that methodically building into a game and establishing control of it is what Slot often wants to do, but a bit more attacking intent - and an early goal - would surely help with that in big challenges to come. Then again if their second halves are this good then does it matter?
4. Four out of four means it'll get easier for Liverpool
So that's four out of four in the revamped Champions League for Liverpool, something that would have ensured a spot as group winners in the old format. And in truth has pretty much secured a spot amongst the top eight qualifiers in this one.
The Reds host Real Madrid at Anfield next, and while you obviously cannot play down the importance of such a fixture, the need to win it is clearly reduced. Slot will be able to afford to chop and change his side in the matches to come both in calendar year and the next one, something that could be vital in such a packed calendar.
5. Xabi Alonso gets a chastening return
Alonso got a nice reception, he touched the The Is Anfield sign and he said all the right things, but in the end this was a tough night for the ex-Red who was overwhelmed by his old club.
Last season's unbeaten league campaign looked a long way away.
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