Even Bayer Leverkusen, who made one history after another in German football last season, could not hold the reins of Liverpool's victory. The English giants are only the second team to achieve 100% success in the Champions League. A Luis Diaz hat-trick helped Liverpool beat Xabi Alonso's side 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday.
Arne Slott's side currently hold the number one spot in the Champions League table. This is their fourth win in four matches. Apart from them, only Aston Villa hold a 100% win record. The team will play their fourth match against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Alonso lifted the Champions League trophy for the Reds in 2005. Leverkusen's defeat brought the return of the coach and former Liverpool hero to a screeching halt. After the match, he said, 'This result is more painful than the performance. But this is the Champions League, the highest level of competition and we didn't play well enough today. I separate the great feeling of coming here from the painful consequences. I am overwhelmed by the warm reception from the Anfield crowd.'
In contrast to the painful loss of Alonso, Slott continues to fill the void of Jürgen Klopp well with continued success. He got 14th win in 16 matches when he came to Liverpool.
Diaz opened the scoring with a wonderful goal in the 61st minute. Kurtis Jones passed through Leverkusen's defense, receiving the ball Diaz lifted the ball over goalkeeper Lukas Haradeki's head and into the net.
Cody Gakpo doubled the lead two minutes later. Mohamed Salah's cross dived off the back post and rattled the net. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but the decision was overturned on VAR.
Diaz scored his second goal in the 83rd minute. He took Salah's cross and met the opponent's challenge. When Darwin Nunez's shot was blocked in stoppage time, Diaz completed the hat trick by scoring on the return shot.
Liverpool handed the Bundesliga champions their first defeat after losing just one match in all competitions last season. The six-time champions have 12 points from four matches. And Leverkusen are 11th with one draw and one loss against two wins.
