Arne Slot hold onto his undefeated records in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) stage qualifying round of matches as he thrash Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield stadium.
In the round four batch of qualifying matches in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign, English premier league side, Liverpool FC were paired to host reigning German Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen FC on November 5, 2024.
Prior to the start of the game, Bayer Leverkusen’s manager, Xabi Alonso, who is a legend for Liverpool as player; making over two hundred and ten appearances had to keep his composure since he was on the touch lines at Anfield, seeking to snatch a win from his former club.
Arne Slot on the other side, since taking over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s manager has not tasted a loss at Anfield both in the Premier league and the Champions League, hence, was in contention not to bin such enviable records.
The game was finally under and after the first-half, there was literally no end-to-end action or a score as both side stacked to a very compact style of play, being in a conservative form, and hoping to pounce on the opponents mistakes which did not happen.
Into the second half of the game, the true colors of both teams began to show-off as both managers changed their style of play; the teams were now set-up to be more expansive and all attacking with a touch of keeping it tight in the heart of defensive.
However, the only difference amongst Liverpool and Leverkusen’s formation they deploy on the night was the personals under-taking respective responsibilities on the field of play. Liverpool had very experienced side who had seen it all when it comes to the highest stage in continental club football; boasting of Trent Alexander Arnold, Mohammed Salah, Virgil van Dijk who have competed and won the UEFA Champions League while Bayer Leverkusen does not have any serial winners in their team.
Hence, when it mattered the most, the experienced came to bear which led to the first goal as Curtis Jones played a pass through the sloppy defense of Leverkusen for Luis Diaz to kick the ball in style over the already committed goal-keeper to give Liverpool the lead on the 61st minute.
After two of since the first goal, Mohammed Salah lashes a beautiful cross into the eighteen yard box for Gakpo to pounce on at the far post to provide Liverpool with a two goal cushion.
Subsequently, both managers initiated substitution, Liverpool’s manager hope to increase or keep the lead whilst Bayer Leverkusen still probing to either stage a come-back or an equalizer which did not happen.
Further in the last ten minutes to the end of the game, Mohammed Salah linked up play with Luis Diaz for the third goal on the 83rd minute. During stoppage time, an individual brilliance from Luis Diaz made it four goals in favor of Liverpool FC.
At the end of the ninety-minutes of soccer on a UEFA Champions league night at Anfield, Liverpool’s left-winger, Luis Diaz was adjudged the player of the match, which was well deserved.
Liverpool after their four games played in the Champions League group stage has zero loss, zero draw, and four wins. Therefore, they are the only team in the qualifying stages from the group who have not tasted any defeat and they are on top of the league table with ten goals scored, one goal conceded and twelve maximum points.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen currently lie on the 11th position with just seven points on the qualifying league table, with six goals scored and five goals conceded after four games played.
