Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Luis Diaz bags a hat-trick as the Reds run riot in the second half to spoil Xabi Alonso’s Anfield homecoming

Above all, the one characteristic that sets world-class midfielders apart from the standard is a vision to pick passes that 99 percent of the stadium wouldn’t even think of attempting, let alone getting off.

But if there was one man at Anfield last night, apart from the 22 players on the pitch, who would have noticed the pass before Curtis Jones’ superb assist, it was the chap in the spotless white trainers standing in the technical room was crouched, Xabi. Alonso.

It was a cushioned punch that split open Leverkusen’s well-drilled and stubborn defense and it looked quite simple. But that’s what the best midfielders do: Alonso has made a career of winning World Cups, Champions Leagues and national titles.

And it proved to be the decisive moment between a damp defeat and maintaining a 100 percent record in Europe for Arne Slot’s charges. Jones set up Luis Diaz to score with an equally deft finish, drilling over the goalkeeper before Cody Gakpo doubled the lead minutes later.

Goals are a bit like waiting for the London buses recently for the Reds. Stand there for a while and then two will come at once. Two goals in three minutes to turn the game on its head and win against Brighton on Saturday, same here to smack away the German champions.

The Colombian opened the scoring with a beautiful chip on Lukas Hradecky in the Leverkusen goal

Cody Gakpo continued his good form in front of goal with the Reds’ second after a devastating counter-attack

Before that, the match felt like a charity match – and not just because of the guests in attendance, including Alonso, Rafa Benitez and Luis Garcia. Add the BBC’s Stephen Warnock to the mix and it was a reunion in Istanbul in 2005. It was a dull affair, without danger.

Alonso had accidentally timed his entrance from the tunnel to coincide with Liverpool fans belting out the Champions League anthem – following UEFA’s scandalous handling of supporters during the 2022 final – but the returning Spaniard was then given a warm welcome.

He just stared into the deep red structure of the Kop for 30 seconds, still looking at this ground in awe – completely different from how he will remember it. As per the ritual, he touched the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign and shook hands with former teammate Luis Garcia, now a pundit.

The Leverkusen boss waved to those in the main stand, although one suspects his hand was not aimed at former boss Rafa Benitez, who was here as a guest in the posh seats. It was a falling out between the two Spaniards that led to Alonso’s desire to leave in 2009.

But after his pre-match politeness, Alonso seemed completely focused on the task in front of his side. And he patrolled his equipment room like a man possessed, clenching his fists and crouching in fear, waving his arms furiously with instructions.

How this homecoming must have made him wish he could stand on the Anfield pitch again and dictate the game, as he did so often over the years. Instead, he was in a position without direct control over the proceedings. However, his team followed his orders perfectly.

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso returned to Anfield with his Bayer Leverkusen team on Tuesday evening

Given the love for Alonso, this had the atmosphere of a practice match. Well done, UEFA, this is the reward for blowing up the calendar so much that there is little at stake and little to no danger in matches like this. At halftime it looked as if both teams would have shaken hands with a 0-0 score.

Liverpool had a couple of half-chances in the opening 45 minutes, but Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was never asked to make anything other than regular saves. Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah were all guilty of firing straight at Leverkusen No. 1.

At the other end, former Manchester City and Celtic player Jeremy Frimpong had a goal disallowed for a handball in the build-up, and the same player also had a penalty denied when he went down under Virgil van Dijk’s challenge. He took the man, but it would have been soft.

Fifteen minutes of the second half passed without much change and just like on Saturday, the Kop felt they could play their role best. Anfield felt his voice drowned out the cackling of fireworks that populated the night sky and the sound seemed to serve as fuel for the home players.

Ryan Gravenberch moved away from a few challenges and only gave Mohamed Salah so he could fluff his lines and miscue a shot from close range, but on the next attack Jones took the ball on the half turn and made an eye-of-the-eye pass the needle to Diaz.

Diaz completed the scoring and saw the home side maintain their perfect start to the campaign

The home team has now won fourteen of the first sixteen matches in all competitions this season

Arne Slot’s team are at the top of the Premier League and at the top of the Champions League rankings

The Colombian took a nice touch and then gave goalkeeper Hradecky a tap. Diaz had started the match in an unfamiliar number 9 role and it took a while to find his feet, but this composed finish was as good as Slot could have asked for.

A few minutes later, Salah found space on the right and put a cross onto a plate for Gakpo to score his fourth goal of the past week, after three against Brighton – in two games in different competitions.

Diaz put the icing on the cake after 83 minutes with a smart finish after Salah resurfaced with an assist, and he completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to send Liverpool back to the top of the table.