Diaz treble dashes Alonso's hopes on return to Anfield

The finest compliment to Xabi Alonso, Arne Slot wrote in his programme notes, "is to be the best Liverpool that we can possibly be with no quarter asked and no quarter given."

- Andy Hunter

Liverpool obliged to perfection to give their former favourite a harrowing return to Anfield.

The champions of Germany were dissected in a dominant second-half performance by Liverpool who maintained their 100% record in this season's Champions League courtesy of a Luis Diaz hat-trick and a Cody Gakpo header.

Leverkusen were unbeaten themselves before arriving at Anfield. They left chastened, Liverpool soaring to the top of the table with the confidence of a team that has won a remarkable 14 of the first 16 games under Slot.

It is rare to see a manager acclaimed by both sets of supporters but Alonso made for an understandable exception.

The Leverkusen coach received a rapturous reception from Liverpool fans when conducting a TV interview in front of the Main Stand before kick-off, and another from the travelling contingent when continuing his media rounds in their corner of the stadium.

A penny for Alonso's thoughts when stood alongside Frank Lampard at the pundits' podium?

The pair exchanged several blows during their days in the midfields of Liverpool and Chelsea. One resulted in Alonso suffering a broken ankle early in his Anfield career.

"I don't have time for tourism," the former Liverpool midfielder had said on the eve of the contest, making it clear that the mission here was to defeat his former club.

It will have been a relief to Alonso to park the sentiment and get on with the game, which kicked off following a minute's silence for the victims of the floods in Valencia.

But he wouldn't have been the only person left wanting more by a sterile first half.